“a rare remnant of an exceptional culture”
Poverty Point is a rare remnant of an exceptional culture which built these massive earthworks consisting of five mounds and six rows of semi-circular concentric ridges which has been estimated took at least five million hours of labor to build. Dated between 1650 and 1100 B.C., this site of more than 400 acres is unique among archaeological sites on this continent. In 1962, Poverty Point was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Tram tours are given Wednesday - Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Year round (weather permitting). Admission : $4 per person (Children 12 and under & adults 62 and older admitted free.) A Louisiana Annual Park Pass allows free entrance for all occupants accompanying a pass holder in a private vehicle. Passes can be purchased at any state park for $80 DIRECTIONS: From I-20, take the Delhi Exit (#153) and travel north on LA 17 to Epps (10 mi.), east on LA 134 (5 mi.) and north on LA 577 (1 mi.) GPS Coordinates: N 32.2500; W 91 24.4164 Activities at the park include an interpretive museum, introductory video, a 2.6 mile hiking trail and a sand-sifting activity for those 6 and under. Scheduled demonstrations of the atlatl, ancient tools, flinknapping and cooking in the earthoven with cooking stones. Scheduled programs include themed guided hikes; workshops such as, building birdhouses, flintknapping and beading.
An excellent but out of the way archeological site. The broader area in NE Louisiana has many small mounds from the Mississippian cultures that moved this way from the North, but this one is only rivaled by Cahokia mounds near St Louis. In some ways, this site is more impressive as it has a grand central mound plus a series of concentric rings of raised earth that shouldered the residencies of many hundreds of families. The interpretive center has great exhibits about the cultures that lived here plus the painstaking work of establishing the history here. There is a short movie and a shuttle tour to see the grand mound itself. The site is a few miles away from a main road but I feel the drive is well rewarded. A modern park with restrooms and a small gift shop awaits.
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Poverty Point World Heritage Site
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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