Travelling in Style
At the Emerald Mound parking lot.
Emerald Mound is the site of a Native American archaeological site located about 10 miles (17 km) northeast of the center of Natchez, Mississippi. The principal feature of the site is Emerald Mound itself, a flat topped artificial mound about 580 ft (178 m) east to west, 380 ft (116 m) north to south and 35 ft (11 m) in height. This is the second-largest prehistoric Native American earthwork in the U.S., after Monk's Mound, in Cahokia, Illinois.
Emerald Mound was constructed from 1250 to 1600 AD. It began as a natural hill, which was built up by workers depositing earth along the sides, reshaping it and creating an elongated, artificial plateau. A secondary mound, 30 feet (9.1 m) in height, is at the west end of the plateau. A smaller secondary mound is at the east end of the plateau. Originally, three additional smaller mounds existed along the north edge of the plateau, with three more along the south edge.
The site was used as a ceremonial center for a population residing in outlying villages and hamlets, but was abandoned by the late 1730s. Today, the site is protected and open to visitors, but is also again in ceremonial use. Natchez, Choctaw and Chickasaw gather at this sacred site. I visited this place on April 19, 2018.
Travelling in Style
At the Emerald Mound parking lot.
Emerald Mound is the site of a Native American archaeological site located about 10 miles (17 km) northeast of the center of Natchez, Mississippi. The principal feature of the site is Emerald Mound itself, a flat topped artificial mound about 580 ft (178 m) east to west, 380 ft (116 m) north to south and 35 ft (11 m) in height. This is the second-largest prehistoric Native American earthwork in the U.S., after Monk's Mound, in Cahokia, Illinois.
Emerald Mound was constructed from 1250 to 1600 AD. It began as a natural hill, which was built up by workers depositing earth along the sides, reshaping it and creating an elongated, artificial plateau. A secondary mound, 30 feet (9.1 m) in height, is at the west end of the plateau. A smaller secondary mound is at the east end of the plateau. Originally, three additional smaller mounds existed along the north edge of the plateau, with three more along the south edge.
The site was used as a ceremonial center for a population residing in outlying villages and hamlets, but was abandoned by the late 1730s. Today, the site is protected and open to visitors, but is also again in ceremonial use. Natchez, Choctaw and Chickasaw gather at this sacred site. I visited this place on April 19, 2018.