Emerald Mound - Natchez, Mississippi

Emerald Mound is one of the largest Indian mounds in North America, covering eight acres. This ceremonial mound was built by the ancestors of the Natchez tribe around 1400. Earth was deposited along the sides of a natural hill, reshaping it into a plateau. Two other mounds were built on top. The larger (pictured) is 30 feet high. People farmed in the area but used the mounds for burials, temples and ceremonial structures. Archeologists believe intricate religious rituals were conducted here.

If you go:
Exit Natchez Trace Parkway at Rte. 553 intersection; follow signs to mound, about 1 mile. Open to the public daily, free of charge.