Spiro Mounds, Archaeological site in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, United States
Spiro Mounds is an archaeological site in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, covering roughly 150 acres (60 hectares) along the Arkansas River. The grounds include twelve earthen mounds of different sizes and functions, among them structures for burials and residential areas.
Spiro was a major Mississippian settlement from about 800 to 1450 CE, with phases from Evans (900–1050) through Spiro (1350–1450). Most mounds were built during the Harlan Phase (1050–1250); residential construction dropped sharply around 1250 as people moved to nearby villages such as Choates-Holt. It remained a ceremonial and mortuary center until the mound area was abandoned about 1450, while nearby communities persisted until 1600.
The people who lived here belonged to a community that maintained contact with other settlements across hundreds of miles, exchanging shells, copper and stone. These connections brought ideas and craft techniques into the Arkansas River valley, reflected in the preserved objects found at the site.
Visitors can walk the trails between the mounds and view the exhibits at the archaeological center. Guided tours led by specialists provide insight into the excavations and the history of the site.
One of the larger mounds contained a sealed chamber where organic materials such as textiles and woven baskets survived. These rare finds provide insight into the daily life and craftsmanship of a community long gone.
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