Poverty Point
Louisiana has the second to largest American mound in the United States. The
historical landmark is called Poverty Point. The huge mound is near Epps,
Louisiana, in West Carroll Parish. The beautiful site was built by the Poverty Point
Indians long ago.
When the Poverty Point Indian tribes lived in Louisiana, they made their mark by
creating this beautiful site. The largest mound in Poverty Point is called the Bird
Effigy Mound. The Bird Effigy Mound is 3/4 mile across, 70 feet high, and looks
like a bird when viewed.
The Poverty Point Culture flourished from approximately 2000 B.C. to 600 B.C.
Poverty Point people lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas areas. They
usually settled near lakes, rivers, or in coastal marshes. Areas near water sources
were supported by a wide variety of plants and animals that could be used for food.
Deer, rabbits, geese, ducks, and turkeys flourished in this habitat.
The Poverty Point Site in northeastern Louisiana was the largest regional center.
When it was built, it lay between the Mississippi and the Arkansas rivers. Using the
river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as
Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Florida.
The Poverty Point site covers an area of roughly 400 acres. Centrally located in the
site are six curved earthen ridges with flat corridors of earth separating the
individual ridges.
Two ramps divide the ridges into three sections. Now each ridge is currently about a
meter high. However, it is believed that they were once five feet high.
The outer ridge diameter is three-quarters of a mile. The innermost ridge’s diameter
is about three-eights of a mile.
The amazing thing is that to create this monument, the Indians loosened shells and
stones and brought all of that to the mound.
The artifacts in the ground can tell us a little about that time and the people who
lived there.
Although archaeologists have not found any articles of clothing from these ancient
people, they have found jewelry. Of the jewelry found, they range from simple to
elaborate. Many seem to feel this indicates that social status was important in the
Poverty Point community.
Directions: Use the article to answer the questions below.
1.
In what Louisiana Parish is Poverty Point?
A. Lafayette Parish B. East Carroll Parish
C. West Carroll Parish
D. Iberia Parish
2. What time period did the Poverty Point Culture flourish?
A. The Poverty Point Culture flourished from approximately 2000 B.C. to 600 B.C.
B. The Poverty Point Culture flourished from approximately 200 B.C. to 60 B.C.
C. The Poverty Point Culture flourished from approximately 2 B.C. to 6 A.D.
D. The Poverty Point Culture flourished from approximately 20 B.C. to 2 B.C.
3. In what regions did the Poverty Point people live?
A. Poverty Point people lived in Louisiana, Washington and Arkansas areas.
B. Poverty Point people lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas areas.
C. Poverty Point people lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alaska areas.
D. Poverty Point people lived in the Texas area only.
4.
The Poverty Point Site in __________________ was the largest regional center.
A. northern Arkansas
C. northeastern Texas
B. northeastern Louisiana
D. south Louisiana
5. Using the river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as _______.
A. Using the river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as Alaska.
B. Using the river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as
Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Florida.
C. Using the river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as
Washington D.C.
D. Using the river and land routes, Poverty Point Indians traded with other Indians as far away as Georgia.
6. How much area does the Poverty Point Site cover?
A. 4000 acres
B. 500 acres
C. 1000 acres
D. 400 acres
7. What have archaeologists found from the Poverty Point area?
A. clothes
B. jewelry
C. food
D. malls
8. The ________________ in the ground can tell us a little about that time and the people who lived
there.
A. clothes
B. artifacts
C. rocks
D. gravel
9. When it was built, it lay between two bodies of water?
A. Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico
B. Mississippi and the Arkansas rivers.
C. Arkansas river and the Gulf of Mexico
D. Mississippi river and the Pacific Ocean
10.
How large is the outer ridge of Poverty Point?
A. The outer ridge diameter is three-quarters of a mile.
B. The outer ridge diameter is one -quarter of a mile.
C. The outer ridge diameter is a half of a mile.
D. The outer ridge diameter is two quarters of a mile.