1
00:00:10,070 --> 00:00:16,139
Louisiana is a place where history and
heritage matters. Our history begins more

2
00:00:16,139 --> 00:00:22,369
than 10,000 years ago. You can see it in
the artifacts, sites, mounds, and

3
00:00:22,369 --> 00:00:28,170
cemeteries left behind. Did you know that
Louisiana has the oldest American Indian

4
00:00:28,170 --> 00:00:33,170
mounds in North America? One example is the mounds at Louisiana State University

5
00:00:33,170 --> 00:00:40,260
which are older than the stone circles
at Stonehenge. Explore our past by taking

6
00:00:40,260 --> 00:00:44,610
the road less traveled along the ancient
mounds driving trail of Northeast

7
00:00:44,610 --> 00:00:49,829
Louisiana. Experience the spectacular
nature of the monumental earthworks of

8
00:00:49,829 --> 00:00:57,300
Poverty Point, a unesco world heritage
site. American Indians built these mounds

9
00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:02,850
by loading dirt into hand-woven baskets
and carrying it to the mound. Some of the

10
00:01:02,850 --> 00:01:06,810
mounds you will see on the trail
required more than 10,000 basket loads

11
00:01:06,810 --> 00:01:13,650
to build. The ancient mounds driving
trail features 39 mounds on four trail

12
00:01:13,650 --> 00:01:18,930
segments in Northeast Louisiana. An
informational trail marker accompanies

13
00:01:18,930 --> 00:01:24,000
each mound. Start your journey off the
beaten path by visiting the Frogmore

14
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,770
mound and plantation in Central
Louisiana. As you continue your drive

15
00:01:28,770 --> 00:01:33,509
north, you'll have the opportunity to
visit numerous sites including the

16
00:01:33,509 --> 00:01:39,200
Harrisonburg mounds, Shackleford church
mounds, Balmoral mounds

17
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:46,259
Insley mounds and lower Jackson Mound. Continue your journey by stopping at the

18
00:01:46,259 --> 00:01:52,290
peaceful sight of Poverty Point. Dating
to about 1,500 BC the monumental

19
00:01:52,290 --> 00:01:56,280
earthworks of Poverty Point is the
largest of the mound sites on the

20
00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:03,119
driving trail. It has six mounds and six
semicircular ridges covering nearly 400

21
00:02:03,119 --> 00:02:07,650
acres.
Mound a is one of the largest mounds in

22
00:02:07,650 --> 00:02:14,880
North America. A state park as well as
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poverty Point

23
00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,800
is the most interactive site on the
driving trail visitors can explore the

24
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:25,290
site on foot through Ranger guided tram
tours and in their own vehicle using the

25
00:02:25,290 --> 00:02:30,420
self driving tour. The museum houses an
extensive collection of artifacts

26
00:02:30,420 --> 00:02:36,690
including stone tools pottery and
cooking balls. The site hosts an array of

27
00:02:36,690 --> 00:02:41,280
activities throughout the year for
children teens and adults such as a

28
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:47,090
hiking trail, night hike, atlatl
competition, traditional flint knapping

29
00:02:47,090 --> 00:02:51,769
demonstrations, and cooking
demonstrations using ancient methods.

30
00:02:51,769 --> 00:02:56,550
Unwind with a walk on the nature trail
through the Marsden mounds yet another

31
00:02:56,550 --> 00:03:01,140
ancient mound site to discover.
Experience Louisiana's archeological

32
00:03:01,140 --> 00:03:05,730
heritage by taking the road less
traveled. Become your own tour guide as

33
00:03:05,730 --> 00:03:09,860
you drive the ancient mounds trail.