How to Identify Native American Burial Mounds in East Texas
- 1). Note the size and shape of the mound. Most burial mounds are 8 to 16 feet high and about 90 feet in diameter. Take photos from a number of angles.
- 2). Look for signs that the hill may be man-made, such as a highly symmetrical shape not normally found in nature.
- 3). Search the surrounding area, on foot or with binoculars, for signs of other mounds. Mounds were sometimes constructed as three points of a triangle, with the area in the middle forming a plaza that was used for rituals and ceremonies. The flat tops of platform mounds are easier to spot than the round tops of burial mounds; if you find a platform mound, there's probably a burial mound within a few hundred feet. Take photos of any mounds that appear to be man-made.
- 4). Visit Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Alto, Texas, and bring your photos. Compare your photos to the known burial mound at the site. Talk to the staff for further assistance with confirming your find. If you can't visit in person, you can also get help by contacting Caddo Mounds staff through their website.
Source...