Fitzhugh Mounds is an
archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or recorded history, historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline ...
in
Madison Parish, Louisiana
Madison Parish ( French: ''Paroisse de Madison'') is a parish located on the northeastern border of the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the delta lowlands along the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,017. Its pari ...
from the
Plaquemine and
Mississippian period dating to approximately 1200–1541 CE.
It is the
type site
In archaeology, a type site (American English) or type-site (British English) is the site used to define a particular archaeological culture or other typological unit, which is often named after it. For example, discoveries at La Tène and H ...
for the ''Fitzhugh Phase (1350–1500)'' of the Tensas Basin Plaquemine Mississippian chronology.
Description
The site was once an impressive seven-mound complex, with four of the
platform mound
A platform mound is any earthwork or mound intended to support a structure or activity. It typically refers to a flat-topped mound, whose sides may be pyramidal.
In Eastern North America
The indigenous peoples of North America built substru ...
s surrounding a central
plaza
A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...
. The site is first mentioned in
E. G. Squier and
E. H. Davis' ''
Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley
''Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley'' (full title ''Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley: Comprising the Results of Extensive Original Surveys and Explorations'') (1848) by the Americans Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton ...
'' in 1848.
The largest mound at the site, at in height, was bulldozed and carted away to use as fill during the construction of
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Reeves County, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. B ...
. Other of the mounds have been extensively plowed by local farmers and only two of the original seven mounds remain. Mound B is in height. Mound D serves as an active historic cemetery and is approximately in height.
[
]
Location
The site is located on La 602 south-southwest of its junction with I-20 I20, I 20 or I-20 may refer to:
* Interstate 20, a highway in the southeastern United States
* I-20 (form), a United States government document that provides supporting information for the issuance of a student visa or change of status
* I-20 (rap ...
.[
]
See also
* Schicker Mound: also in Madison Parish
* Culture, phase, and chronological table for the Mississippi Valley
References
External links
Pictures of Fitzhugh Mounds
Fitzhugh Mounds at waymarking.com
{{Pre-Columbian North America
Plaquemine Mississippian culture
Mounds in Louisiana
Geography of Madison Parish, Louisiana