Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park
Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park in Arkansas is a pre-European archeological site and a National Historic Landmark. It protects the tallest Indian mounds that have survived in Arkansas. Today under the management of both the Department of Parks and Tourism and the Arkansas Archeological Survey, it is a place of ongoing research, while at the same time a tourist attraction.
History
The first European to discover the mounds was a French explorer from New Orleans, Louis Bringier, who was struck by the “regular” shape of the structures. Between 1849 and 1975, the mounds were part of a privately owned site. Initially associated with Toltec Indians from Central America, this assumption was later proved wrong. The mounds were actually built by people of the Plum Bayou culture, ancestors of Native Americans who also inhabited the area between A.D. 700 and 1050. The mounds were religious and social centers for people living in the areas surrounding the site, and they were mostly occupied by the political and religious leaders of these communities and their families. Later on, other Native Americans populated the site and were wrongly identified as the builders of the mounds. The Toltec Mounds came under the protection of the state in 1975 and were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
Activities
A visit to the Toltec Mounds is a great lesson in archeology and history. The visitor's center located in the park offers exhibits and special lectures on archeology, Native Americans and environmental studies. The Arkansas Archeological Survey houses its research station and laboratory in the visitor's center. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour on the three-quarter-mile barrier-free Knapp Trail or a 1.6 mile turf trail called Plum Bayou. It is also possible to request a guided tour by reservation.
Whether you are a lover of history and archeology or just want to connect to an ancient world while following scenic trails, the Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is the little wonder of Arkansas that you should not miss.