Parkin Archeological State Park
Parkin Site / Casqui
Mississippian / Nodena phase 1000–1541 CE·Mississippian Nodena·🇺🇸 Arkansas, United States
About
About Parkin Archeological State Park
Mississippian fortified village (1000–1541 CE) at St. Francis River confluence identified with Hernando de Soto's 1541 province of Casqui. 6.9 ha site enclosed by moat-ditch (35 m wide) and wooden palisade with 2 m high earthen embankment, central 7.3 m platform mound and plaza. House floors with thatch, SECC shell gorgets and Nodena phase pottery.
Why it mattersOne of few Mississippian sites securely correlated to de Soto entradas; key for protohistoric chronology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Casqui identification is definitive vs Pacaha
- 02Function of moat as defensive vs borrow ritual
Theories
- 01De Soto's Casqui capital and moat as status engineering
- 02Mississippian collapse due to introduced disease
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1000–1541 CE
- Period
- Mississippian / Nodena phase 1000–1541 CE
- Culture
- Mississippian Nodena
- Builders
- Mississippian
- Purpose
- Fortified chiefdom town, provincial capital visited by de Soto
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1000–1541 CE
Initial construction
c. 1420 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
35.2744° N · 90.5636° W · 65 m · 2 mapped features
Parkin Archeological State Park central feature
featureMain architectural feature
35.2744° N · 90.5636° WParkin Archeological State Park secondary sector
sectorSecondary sector
35.2754° N · 90.5626° W
Gallery