A snapshot of the Moundville Museum and two of the 29 mounds. (Photo | UA Museums)
Moundville Archaeological Park is unquestionably one of the most fascinating historical sites in our state. Wherever you walk within the 325 acres that make up the park you are traversing history. Moundville opened for visitors in May of 1939 and draws on average 40,000 visitors every year, all of whom undoubtedly leave with an enriched understanding of Native American culture.
A rendering of what Moundville may have looked like during its heyday. (Photo | UA Museums)
It is unknown which Native American tribe built the mounds due to the lack of written records. It is a site rich with Mississippian culture and was occupied from roughly A.D. 1000 until A.D. 1450. After 1350 the site began to decline in population and was abandoned by the 1500s; the reasons for the abandonment of the settlement are not known. According to Dr. John H. Blitz of the University of Alabama Anthropology Department, it may soon be possible to identify living descendants of the Moundville inhabitants through the use of DNA. He states that “Undoubtedly, their descendants still exist among the American Indians who live in the Southeast.”
Moundville is located 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa on the Black Warrior River, and it consists of 29 large earthen mounds that were constructed by the prehistoric inhabitants of the region. There are still many mysteries about the original residents, but thankfully much information has been gleaned by the wealth of artifacts that they left behind. Dr. Blitz writes that “The people of Moundville had legends, songs, and tales that were told through generations, faint echoes of which are still heard in native oral tradition.”
In the late 1800s, a farmer discovered a beautifully preserved stone disk engraved with two rattlesnakes among the mounds, and he took the artifact to Eugene A. Smith, founder of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Soon after, with the aid of funds provided by Congress, the archeological site of Moundville began to excavated. In 1905, the gentleman archaeologist Clarence B. Moore began to extensively excavate the site and carefully document his discoveries, and he uncovered some of the most extraordinary prehistoric artifacts ever found in the Southeast.
It came to light that Moundville was once a vast compound, a fortified town, and consisted of an assortment of houses and fields, a center for religious ceremonies, and a large graveyard. The mounds themselves were used for civic and sacred purposes and for the homes of nobles. Later in the early 20th century the Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC) undertook extensive excavations at Moundville and interest in the site was revived. The University of Alabama began a concentrated effort to rebuild and redefine the Jones archeological museum in 1999, which resulted in a $5 million renovation. The Jones Museum is home to more than 200 artifacts and features the immersive, informative “Lost Realm of the Black Warrior” exhibit. The remodeled museum opened to the public in 2010.
Moundville is located 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa on the Black Warrior River, and it consists of 29 large earthen mounds that were constructed by the prehistoric inhabitants of the region. There are still many mysteries about the original residents, but thankfully much information has been gleaned by the wealth of artifacts that they left behind. Dr. Blitz writes that “The people of Moundville had legends, songs, and tales that were told through generations, faint echoes of which are still heard in native oral tradition.”
In the late 1800s, a farmer discovered a beautifully preserved stone disk engraved with two rattlesnakes among the mounds, and he took the artifact to Eugene A. Smith, founder of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Soon after, with the aid of funds provided by Congress, the archeological site of Moundville began to excavated. In 1905, the gentleman archaeologist Clarence B. Moore began to extensively excavate the site and carefully document his discoveries, and he uncovered some of the most extraordinary prehistoric artifacts ever found in the Southeast.
It came to light that Moundville was once a vast compound, a fortified town, and consisted of an assortment of houses and fields, a center for religious ceremonies, and a large graveyard. The mounds themselves were used for civic and sacred purposes and for the homes of nobles. Later in the early 20th century the Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC) undertook extensive excavations at Moundville and interest in the site was revived. The University of Alabama began a concentrated effort to rebuild and redefine the Jones archeological museum in 1999, which resulted in a $5 million renovation. The Jones Museum is home to more than 200 artifacts and features the immersive, informative “Lost Realm of the Black Warrior” exhibit. The remodeled museum opened to the public in 2010.
Notable Artifacts
From left: Caroline Gazzara-McKenzie, Dr. Susan Reynolds, Rebecca Minder, Camryn Haag, and author Katharine Armbrester visited Moundville recently.
(Photo | Caroline Gazzara-McKenzie)
(Photo | Caroline Gazzara-McKenzie)
The Alabama Heritage team made a recent visit to the park, and it was the first time that I visited since in middle school. Everything seemed larger than I remembered, and this time the friendliness and knowledge of the staff made a great impression on me. I was fascinated by the detail of the dioramas, and particularly impressed by the effort made to ensure historical accuracy. I also enjoyed visiting the Black Warrior Coffee Company & Knotted Bird Giftshop that is located in the museum for visitors’ enjoyment. All of us here at Alabama Heritage certainly hope that if you have not visited Moundville before that you will get the opportunity to do so this summer!
Sources
Blitz, John H. Moundville. The University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa, 2008.
Knight, Vernon James, Jr., Ed. The Moundville Expedition of Clarence Bloomfield Moore. The University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa and London, 1996.
Knight, Vernon James, Jr., Ed. The Moundville Expedition of Clarence Bloomfield Moore. The University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa and London, 1996.
About the Author
Katharine Armbrester graduated from UAB in 2019 with an MA in history and received an MFA in creative writing from the Mississippi University for Women in 2022. She loves the world of periodicals, Alabama history and writing. Katharine Armbrester graduated from UAB in 2019 with an MA in history and received an MFA in creative writing from the Mississippi University for Women in 2022. She loves the world of periodicals, Alabama history and writing.
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