Most People Don’t Know About These Strange Ruins Hiding In Louisiana
By Jackie Ann|Published May 16, 2020
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
There’s so much to explore in Louisiana, you could easily spend an entire year just popping around the state and learning about the history of all of the small towns, large cities, forests, swamps, and more. For history lovers, there’s no better spot to visit than Poverty Point in Louisiana. At over 3,000 years old, this World Heritage Site is one of the most remarkable historical attractions in Louisiana and worthy of a road trip to learn more.
Located in the tiny town of Pioneer in northeastern Louisiana, Poverty Point is one of those incredible hidden gems that most Louisianians don’t know about.
Not only is it a National Historic Landmark, but it’s also a World Heritage Site, joining the ranks of historic treasures like Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China.
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The mystery of Poverty Point dates back more than 3,400 years.
At its peak, the site was a ceremonial center, a trading hub, and home to hundreds or even thousands of people. What’s even more fascinating is when you realize that these incredible structures were built by hand, taking several generations to complete.
No one knows for sure. Similar mounds in other parts of the country were used for burial spots, platforms for buildings, or even ancient trash piles. But archaeologists have not found any human remains or trash, so the assumption is that these mounds were symbols of power and wealth.
Since the early inhabitants left no written records of their day-to-day-lives, much of what we have learned we’ve learned through artifacts and materials left behind.
The bayou would have looked much different than it does today, but archaeologists have found rocks and minerals at Poverty Point from up to 800 miles away that would have been transported by boat.
When you visit, you’ll have the opportunity to see several of the artifacts that have been unearthed by archaeologists.
You’ll be able to see the different mounds and take in the beautiful views. There are also educational signs along the way so you can learn more about this hidden treasure.
For more information, check out its website and give it a follow on Facebook.
Have you ever visited Poverty Point? Let us know in the comments below!
And if you know of a local restaurant, hiking trail, historic attraction, or any other hidden gem you think we should know about, nominate it here!
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