Ancient Indian Mounds in Southern Indiana

Ancient Indian Mounds in Southern Indiana

Today we visit Angle Indian Mounds State Historic Site at Evansville, Indiana.
These Indian mounds are over 500 years old and the best preserved ancient site in the United States.
From the Book
Southwest Indiana Day Trips

Transcript:

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Amerindians of the Mississippian culture built the eleven earthen mounds between A.D. 1050 and 1400 to elevate important buildings.
Mississippian Culture
The first known residents of the Angel Mounds site were the hunters and gatherers that exploited the rich wildlife found in the area. The Mississippian Culture followed around 1000 AD. The rich earth, replenished by annual Ohio River floods, attracted these people, who conducted large scale farming operation in the area. The major crop was maize, however they also grew squash, beans and pumpkins. Abundant wildlife in the surrounding forests provided meat for the village, which reached a population of several thousand people. The site also served a religious function. They built the mounds for a number of reasons, which included religious, burial and as residences for important people. People came from a seventy mile radius to take part in religious rites, form war parties and trade. Historians are not sure why the inhabitants abandoned the site around 1400 AD, before European settlement. The area remained vacant until around 1650 when bands of the Shawnee, Miami and other tribes roamed through the area.
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
The State of Indiana has turned it into the Angel Mounds State Historic Site which now covers 500 acres. The facilities include a nature preserve with hiking and biking trails under the jurisdiction of the Indiana State Museum. The site is one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites in the United States. Archeologists have excavated many of the mounds, studying their finds to learn more about this ancient people. The 600-acre site contains twelve earthen mounds, trails and interpretive information depicting Middle Mississippian culture. During September, the event Native American Days features Native American dancing, music, crafts and other demonstrations. The archeological site comprises 100 acres. The remaining 500 acres consists of a nature preserve with a visitor center, intrepretive programss, hiking and biking trails.
The National Register of Historic Places added Angel Mounds to the Register on October 15, 1966.

For more information, contact:
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
8215 Pollack Ave.
Evansville, IN 47715
(812) – 853 – 3956
angelmoundsshs@indianamuseum.org

The episode is based upon my book, South Central Indiana Road Trips, available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the first book in the 9 volume Road Trip Indiana Series. The books include all the historical markers, as of 2022, in Indiana with the text and back story. The books also include a nearly complete listing of virtually every tourism destination in the state. The destinations include parks, museums, drive in theaters, bowling alleys, wineries and much, much more. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it.
You can find my books locally at the at the Romweber Marketplace in downtown Batesville, Indiana.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.

Angel Mounds State Historic Site, 8215 Pollack Avenue, is a rich archeological treasure. The site is one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites in the United States. The 600-acre site contains twelve earthen mounds, trails and interpretive information depicting Middle Mississippian culture. During September, the event Native American Days features Native American dancing, music, crafts and other demonstrations. The archeological site comprised 100 acres. The remaining 500 acres consists of a nature preserve with hiking and biking trails.
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
8215 Pollack Ave.
Evansville, IN 47715
812.853.3956