Pharr Mounds
Encyclopedia
Pharr Mounds is a Middle Woodland period archaeological site
located near Tupelo
in parts of Itawamba
and Prentiss County
in northern Mississippi
.
The complex of eight dome shaped Tumulus burial mounds
was in use during the Miller 1 phase of the Miller culture and was built between 1 and 200 CE. It is considered to be one of the largest and most important sites from this era. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as part of the Natchez Trace Parkway
at milepost 286.7.
, a rugged, hilly area with many broad, swampy streams. It is named for "Pharr Flats", a wide gently rolling terrace overlooking the confluence of Little Brown and Mackeys Creeks. The site features eight dome-shaped mounds of differing sizes, several of which have been nearly flattened by European American farming. The mounds in the Pharr Mounds site are scattered over 90 acres of land.
, an archaeologist for the National Park Service
, lead an excavation of four of the mounds. The excavators found fire pits and low clay platforms at the base of the mounds. They also found human remains, some cremated, as well as various exotic ceremonial artifacts.
Many of the artifacts were made from nonlocal materials such as Great Lakes
copper and greenstone
, galena
, and mica
that were obtained through the Hopewell exchange system. These artifacts, which include copper ear-spools and a greenstone platform pipe, show the connection of the local peoples with the larger Middle Woodland period world of the time.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
located near Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
in parts of Itawamba
Itawamba County, Mississippi
In 2000, there were 8,773 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and...
and Prentiss County
Prentiss County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,556 people, 9,821 households, and 7,169 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 10,681 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
in northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
The complex of eight dome shaped Tumulus burial mounds
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
was in use during the Miller 1 phase of the Miller culture and was built between 1 and 200 CE. It is considered to be one of the largest and most important sites from this era. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as part of the Natchez Trace Parkway
Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a National Park Service unit in the southeastern United States that commemorates the historic Old Natchez Trace and preserves sections of the original trail....
at milepost 286.7.
Site description
The site is located at the headwaters of the Tombigbee RiverTombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
, a rugged, hilly area with many broad, swampy streams. It is named for "Pharr Flats", a wide gently rolling terrace overlooking the confluence of Little Brown and Mackeys Creeks. The site features eight dome-shaped mounds of differing sizes, several of which have been nearly flattened by European American farming. The mounds in the Pharr Mounds site are scattered over 90 acres of land.
| Mound | Width and length | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Mound A | 55 feet (16.8 m) by 65 feet (19.8 m) | 7 feet (2.1 m) |
| Mound B | 105 feet (32 m) by 110 feet (33.5 m) | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Mound C | 115 feet (35.1 m) in diameter | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Mound D | 80 feet (24.4 m) by 95 feet (29 m) | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Mound E | 165 feet (50.3 m) by 175 feet (53.3 m) | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Mound F | 60 feet (18.3 m) in diameter | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Mound G | 200 feet (61 m) in diameter | 6 feet (1.8 m) |
| Mound H | 110 feet (33.5 m) by 130 feet (39.6 m) | 2 foot (0.6096 m) |
Archaeology
In 1966 Robert CarrBob Carr (archaeologist)
Robert Carr is an American archaeologist and the current executive director of The Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc. He specializes in Southeastern archaeology, with particular emphasis on archaeology in Florida. He has also conducted fieldwork in the Bahamas.-Early life and...
, an archaeologist for the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, lead an excavation of four of the mounds. The excavators found fire pits and low clay platforms at the base of the mounds. They also found human remains, some cremated, as well as various exotic ceremonial artifacts.
Many of the artifacts were made from nonlocal materials such as Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
copper and greenstone
Greenstone (archaeology)
Greenstone is a common generic term for valuable, green-hued minerals and metamorphosed igneous rocks and stones, that were used in the fashioning of hardstone carvings such as jewelry, statuettes, ritual tools, and various other artefacts in early cultures...
, galena
Galena
Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral.Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms...
, and mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
that were obtained through the Hopewell exchange system. These artifacts, which include copper ear-spools and a greenstone platform pipe, show the connection of the local peoples with the larger Middle Woodland period world of the time.