In case anyone is wondering, Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is no more. For quite a long time, there have been discussions and arguments over the park’s name. Apparently, the park was named after the wrong Indian tribe and some people have been fighting to restore honor to the tribe that once occupied the land. The concern was that the park has always been named Toltec and all media publications were printed under this name. Another concern was that the occupying tribe’s name is actually unknown to archaeologists. Regardless of the concerns, the site needed to honor and respect the Native American Indians that built the mounds. So, the state consulted with the Quapaw Nation and Arkansas Archaeological Survey to finally agree on changing the name to reflect the tribe who supposedly occupied the area and created the mounds.
So how did the Plum Bayou Mounds acquire the wrong name in the first place?
From 1857 to 1990, Mrs. Gilbert Knapp owned the land that contained the mounds. Initially, the mounds were named after her – the Knapp Mounds – but an official name was quickly created. From the beginning of her ownership, she always thought that the Toltec Indians of Mexico were responsible for building the mounds. However, Mrs. Knapp’s interest in archaeology of the mounds started an investigation on the property in 1883 by Edward Palmer, a field investigator for the Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution. Palmer excavated in eight of the mounds and his findings proved Mrs. Knapp’s idea wrong. According to the findings, archaeologists believe the North American Indian ancestors were the ones who built the mounds. Since their name was unknown, archaeologists decided to name the tribe after a nearby stream – the Plum Bayou Indians.
For quite some time, the area was known as the Toltec Mounds. Continual debate over changing the name pursued. Some thought it would be too much trouble to change everything while others wanted to recognize and honor the actual occupants of the land. The Toltec Mounds remained until November 2022, when they officially renamed the state park after its actual occupants. Yet, people have to be careful when talking about Plum Bayou because it can still be confusing to those who did not get the memo that the Toltec Mounds had a name change.
Plum Bayou Indians
The Plum Bayou Indians (or whatever their tribe’s name actually was) were highly intelligent people whose culture was very distinct from other tribes. They created an entire way of life around the sun and its rotation around the earth. They knew a mathematical system way beyond a lot of people’s understanding, or at least my understanding.
While Plum Bayou mounds are found across the entire state, they specifically occupied this land from about 650 to 1050 BC. They built 18 mounds next to an oxbow lake, which served as a port of water transportation. A 10-foot-high and 1-mile-long earthen embankment wall was built to surround the mounds and protect its occupants. The mounds were created for social, religious, and political activities. Only one mound is said to have been used for burial purposes. The mounds’ locations were strategically placed based on the alignment of solar positions. Standardized units of measurement were used to determine the spacing of each mound.
While its small community here was made up of mainly religious and political leaders, the site was a central waypoint and destination for many Native American Indians. Their location was strategically placed near the water, which many people used for travel purposes. Whether traveling by land or water, Indians from the other Plum Bayou mounds in the state would make the trek to Plum Bayou for religious purposes, political issues, and ceremonial purposes. Considering the size of Little Rock, this site’s traffic was much larger in its prime, as it served as the culture’s center point for such activities.
A Change of Times
In the 1400s, a different Native American Indian tribe occupied the land for a short time. Much later in time, the land became farmland for settlers. In 1977, consistent archaeological research began at the mounds and still continues today. Even after 135 years of farming on the mound site, there is still plenty of evidence of its Native American history. Fortunately, erosion and farming have not washed away the mounds, as clear evidence of them remains.
Visiting The Mounds
Plum Bayou is unique in that it is 1 of 4 National Historic Landmarks in the state park system. In 1978, the site was dedicated as a National Historic Landmark. For over a hundred years, the mound site has attracted national interest from tourists and archaeologists. Probably rightfully so because this park interprets the largest and most complex mound site in the entire state!
Inside the Visitor Center is a unique collection of artifacts and animal bones, and information about the archaeological excavations. Unfortunately, the findings from the first excavation in 1882-1883 are not on display here. You can see these artifacts at the Smithsonian Institute.
For the history buffs, there is a complete timeline of occupants of the area. You can even read about Palmer’s descriptions of his excavations in Report on the Mound Explorations of the Bureau of Ethnology, published in 1894 by Cyrus Thomas. If science or math is more interesting, then you will enjoy learning about how the mounds were formed and which was used for what purpose. Perhaps art is your thing, and you will enjoy the sketches drawn in 1883 by Henry J. Lewis of the mounds by Palmer’s descriptions.
The only barrier free trail at this location is Knapp Trail, which will lead you through the prehistoric Indian site to 3 of the 18 mounds. Be prepared, though, because the trail can be very hot in summer heat as there is no shade. There is also a guided tour that educates people about the Native American Indians that occupied the land and built the mounds over a thousand years ago.
So, next time you are in the Little Rock area, be sure to drive out to this unique piece of history that archaeologists are still trying to understand. While there are plenty of mounds to see, it is important to know that a lot of walking can be involved to see them all up close.
What was your favorite part of the mounds when you visited?