Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
Wickliffe Mounds
Mississippian 1000–1350 CE·Mississippian (Wickliffe phase)·🇺🇸 Kentucky, United States
About
About Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
Mississippian town eight platform mounds around plaza above Mississippi–Ohio confluence, 1000–1350 CE, 800 inhabitants, shell-tempered pottery.
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Why it mattersArchaeological landmark for Mississippian (Wickliffe phase) in Kentucky; type-site demonstrating palisaded mound town and regional exchange.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and chronology of Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site within Mississippian 1000–1350 CE
- 02Relationship to neighboring polities
Theories
- 01Mississippian (Wickliffe phase) ceremonial center for palisaded mound town
- 02Regional capital controlling trade and tribute network
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.1000–1350 CE
- Period
- Mississippian 1000–1350 CE
- Culture
- Mississippian (Wickliffe phase)
- Builders
- Mississippian
- Purpose
- Palisaded mound town
- Abandoned
- c.1350 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1932 F King
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1000–1350 CE
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site construction phase
20th century
Modern excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
36.9708° N · 89.0925° W · 105 m · 2 mapped features
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site central feature
featureMain architectural feature
36.9708° N · 89.0925° WWickliffe Mounds State Historic Site secondary sector
sectorSecondary sector
36.9718° N · 89.0915° W
Gallery