Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber
Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber North Annex · Spiro Site
Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)·Woodland–Mississippian·🇺🇸 Oklahoma, Spiro, United States
About
About Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber
Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber in Oklahoma, Spiro, United States is a Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE) earthwork attributed to Woodland–Mississippian. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal earthwork 350 m long and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 35.3140N -94.5830E controls access to Oklahoma resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey earthwork for Oklahoma, Spiro, illustrating Woodland–Mississippian construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
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. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
- Period
- Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)
- Culture
- Woodland–Mississippian
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork centre for gathering and burial
- Rediscovered
- 1966 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
Initial construction of Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber main structure
c. 1906
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1966–2011
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
35.3140° N · 94.5830° W · 122 m · 4 mapped features
Spiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber — Main Structure
structurePrincipal earthwork — Earthwork 350 m long with diagnostic masonry/panel
35.3148° N · 94.5821° WSpiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
35.3130° N · 94.5837° WSpiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
35.3155° N · 94.5818° WSpiro Mound Craig Hollow Chamber — Hydraulic/Cistern
hydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site
35.3124° N · 94.5841° W