Louisiana may have gained statehood in 1812, but its history goes much further than that. There’s one spot in northeastern Louisiana that goes back thousands of years, and you can visit it to learn more about this fascinating place and its earliest inhabitants.

Poverty Point World Heritage Site dates back more than 3,400 years.
Mark J./Trip Advisor
The mystery that surrounds this site is slowly becoming clear, but we still have much to learn about some of Louisiana’s first residents.
Part of the mystery behind Poverty Point is that those that lived here more than 3,000 years ago left no written records of their day-to-day lives.
Poverty Point World Heritage Site/Facebook
Built between 1650 to 700 BCE during the Archaic Period, historians and archaeologists have determined that the site was a ceremonial center, a trading hub, and a home to hundreds, even thousands of people.
What’s incredible is that Poverty Point’s earthworks, or mounds, were built over a 600-year period.
Wikimedia
The concentric-half circles, measuring about 4 to 6 feet high, would have been built over 25 generations.
Due to its proximity to Bayou Macon, it's clear that they relied heavily on the waterways.
izaks2016/Trip Advisor
Most of the animal bones found in the area were from locally caught fish. It’s safe to assume their diet consisted largely of fish, alligator, frogs, turtles, deer, and other things. Also, the rocks and minerals found were from up to 800-miles away, indicating that they used the river as a massive trading hub.

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While less than one percent of the site has been excavated, what archaeologists have found provides us with clues as to how these ancient people lived.
Poverty Point World Heritage Site/Facebook
When you visit you'll be able to see these artifacts up close and learn more about them.
Artifacts include clay pots, dice, spearheads, and various weapons carved from stone.
Wikimedia
Excavations have also revealed post molds, distinctive stains in the soil that are caused by now-decomposed wooden posts, which suggests that there were houses where people lived.
The scale of Poverty Point is truly unique.
Donald G./Trip Advisor
During this era, most people lived in small groups. Due to the sheer size of the site (910 acres), there easily could have been hundreds, perhaps even thousands of residents.
You can visit Poverty Point World Heritage Site and explore the grounds for yourself.
Poverty Point World Heritage Site/Facebook
The address is 6859 Hwy. 577, Pioneer, Louisiana 71266.

Have you ever been? Let us know in the comments below!

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