Choctaw Artifact Mounds

An article about Louisiana Choctaw Mounds in the Mandeville- Lacombe area can be found at this link on the "Access Genealogy" website. Written by Access Genealogy member Dennis, here are some of its interesting items.

The article begins by describing several mounds that can be found within the Mandeville/Bayou Lacombe area. The largest of these is situated off the right bank of Chinchuba creek. The mound has an elevation of between 4 and 5 feet; it is circular in form and has an average diame­ter of approximately 90 feet.

A trench dug near the center of the mound uncovered two fire beds, so the mound was determined to be a domicile.

A deposit of shells was revealed a short distance from fire bed. The shells were those of an edible clam (Rangia cunteata Gray) found in vast quantities in Lake Pontchartrain. Intermingled with the shells were quantities of bones of deer, rabbits, and alligators. Fragments of many pottery vessels also were recovered, but no entire objects of any sort were found.

Although some of the pieces represent jars and vessels of exceptionally good workmanship, the report went on to say, the majority appear to have been rather crudely made. A pipe was the most interesting object found in the shell deposit. According to Mr. J. D. McGuire, this belongs to the oldest type of pipe found in the lower Mississippi valley; under his classification it is of the biconical form.

Arrow points of white quartzite were found nearby, but these were probably made far to the northeast. Small grooved axes are likewise met with, but they are quite rare. The jasper of which the specimens figured were made was obtained in the form of pebbles from the beds of certain streams in St. Tammany parish.

Some shells and a few pieces of pottery were found exposed upon the surface beneath the branches of "Pere Rouquette Oak," on the very spot where the Choctaw were said to gather to hear the teachings of Père Rouquette. These latter examples of pottery and likewise the shells appear to be of comparatively recent origin, and were undoubtedly left there by the Choctaw not more than one or two generations ago. As the pottery is similar to that found in the deposit of shells beneath the mound, all should probably be attributed to the same people.

See also:

Louisiana Choctaw Mounds