[NPS Arrowhead] U.S. Dept. of Interior National Park Service Archeology Program
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Detail from a painting of a large Mississipian mound.
Ancient Architects of the Mississippi

WONDERS OF GEOMETRIC PRECISION, the earthworks of the lower Mississippi were centers of life long before the Europeans arrived in America. As was the river itself. The alluvial soil of its banks yielded a bounty of beans, squash, and corn to foster burgeoning communities. Over the Mississippi’s waters, from near and far, came prized pearls, copper, and mica.

Today, most of the moundbuilders’ legacy is gone. Many of their earthworks have been plowed, pilfered, eroded, and built over. Yet evidence of the culture remains. This website is part of an effort to preserve the legacy that survives along the banks of the lower Mississippi.  

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