Trip Planner: USA / Mississippi / Natchez / Emerald Mound

Emerald Mound, Natchez

4.0

#8 of 13 in Historic Sites in Natchez

The Emerald Mound Site, also known as the Selsertown site, is a Plaquemine culture Mississippian period archaeological site located on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Stanton, Mississippi, United States. The site dates from the period between 1200 and 1730 CE. It is the type site for the Emerald Phase of the Natchez Bluffs Plaquemine culture chronology and was still in use by the later historic Natchez people for their main ceremonial center. The platform mound is the second-largest Pre-Columbian earthwork in the country, after Monk's Mound at Cahokia, Illinois.The mound covers eight acres, measuring 770ft by 435ft at the base and is 35ft in height. Emerald Mound has a flat top with two smaller secondary mounds at each end. It was constructed around a natural hill. Travelers in the early 19th century noted a number of adjoining mounds and an encircling ditch that are no longer present.This site once had six other secondary mounds which were lost due to the plowing of the surface of the mound. Emerald Mound was stabilized by the National Park Service in 1955. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The mound is now managed by the Park Service's Natchez Trace Parkway unit, and is open to the public.

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Emerald Mound Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

191 reviews

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4.6

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4.6

303 likes

By Bettie W On January 28, 2018

It's amazing how many people don't know the history of Indian mounds. Mississippi has quite a few of them - you can even follow a Mound Trail around the state. The signs will give you a good descripti... more »
By Michael G On January 22, 2018

To visit the second largest native american site in the US was amazing. Located north of Natchez about 20 minutes in a beautiful forest, this peaceful, powerful mound gave me such reverence and peace.... more »
By rhonsinger On January 11, 2018

If you are in the Natchez area this mound is well worth taking a look at. You have to be amazed at how much work was involved in the construction of this attraction. more »

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By Sterling Arthur On January 23, 2018

I give it four stars due to spotty maintenance. It's historic and cultural value cannot be measured. One of the first stops on the scenic Natch Trace Parkway, and well worth the drive! Nearby Grand Village of the Natchez provides context.

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By Terri Dopp-Paukstat On January 23, 2018

Magical place. Amazing mound built 1000 years ago. Good place to watch the sunset.

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By Kayla Dunnam On January 22, 2018

This was a really neat place to visit, my three little boys loved rolling down the big hills. You have a sense of total amazement while there...it took 300 years to build the mound!

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By Mae Bryd On March 24, 2018

Beautiful place to visit. It takes you back in time .

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By Shayden Smith On January 24, 2018

There's a lot of history here, but really not much to see. It would be neat to have a pow wow here.

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