Here in Texas, our Native American roots run deep. Remnants of the indigenous cultures can be found all across the state, providing insight into what their lives were like so long ago. One particularly fascinating historical site can be found in the tiny town of Alto, and one look will leave you scratching your head in wonder.
26 miles west of Nacogdoches in a place called Weeping Mary sits a peculiar Native American settlement.
Flickr/12fh Over 12,000 years ago, Caddo Indians built three mounds here, one for burial and two for ceremonial purposes.
After abandoning the area in the 13th century, the Caddo people migrated to what is now Western Oklahoma.
Flickr/kewing Archaeologists began excavating the mounds as early as 1939, and Texas Parks & Wildlife declared the site a historic park in 1974. Visitors are welcome from Tuesday-Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Soil dug from large holes called “quarry pits” was used to construct the mounds. Workers carried it in baskets above their heads, a painstakingly slow process ultimately resulting in a structure like the one pictured above.
Wikimedia Commons Burial mounds could contain anywhere from one to eight bodies, while ceremonial mounds were filled with the remnants of temples that were beyond repair. A new temple was then built on top, which is where worship took place from that point forward.
Today, both the mounds themselves and an entire replica Caddo village provide insight into what life here was like over 1,000 years ago.
Google/Caddo Mounds State Historic Site Interactive exhibits and a self-guided interpretive trail let visitors experience the sights at their own pace. You’ll see everything from original artifacts to dwellings like this grass house.
Made entirely of natural resources, the Caddo people’s sacred traditions were preserved in creating this replica.
Flickr/kewing Come inside, look around, and travel back in time to a mystical bygone era.
The mounds are located at 1649 State Hwy. 21 West, Alto, TX 75925.
Facebook/visitcaddomounds Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and no charge for children five and under.
Have you ever visited Caddo Mounds? Are there any other fascinating Native American historical sites in Texas? This cave is one of our favorites.
Flickr/12fh
Over 12,000 years ago, Caddo Indians built three mounds here, one for burial and two for ceremonial purposes.
Flickr/kewing
Archaeologists began excavating the mounds as early as 1939, and Texas Parks & Wildlife declared the site a historic park in 1974. Visitors are welcome from Tuesday-Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wikimedia Commons
Burial mounds could contain anywhere from one to eight bodies, while ceremonial mounds were filled with the remnants of temples that were beyond repair. A new temple was then built on top, which is where worship took place from that point forward.
Google/Caddo Mounds State Historic Site
Interactive exhibits and a self-guided interpretive trail let visitors experience the sights at their own pace. You’ll see everything from original artifacts to dwellings like this grass house.
Come inside, look around, and travel back in time to a mystical bygone era.
Facebook/visitcaddomounds
Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and no charge for children five and under.
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