Caddo Mounds State Historic Site

Texas Historical Commission

6 Nov 201409:12

Summary

TLDRThe script narrates the history of the Caddo people, who around 1200 years ago, established a thriving village near the Natchez River in East Texas. It flourished as a ceremonial center with trade, agriculture, and crafts, developing a complex social structure. Despite the decline and eventual abandonment of the site, the Caddo culture persists, with modern efforts to preserve traditions like pottery and language. The site, now a historical landmark, offers insights into Texas's rich past.

Takeaways

🏰 Around 1200 years ago, the Haciene Caddo established a village on the banks of the Natchez River in East Texas, which became a major ceremonial center.
🛣️ The village's location provided access to extensive trade routes and fertile lands rich in resources, supporting a population of 600 to 900 people.
🌾 Corn became a major crop, and the bow and arrow replaced the spear for more efficient hunting, while pottery was created for daily use and artistic expression.
🏔 Three mounds were constructed to mark important ceremonial areas, including a burial mound for community leaders and two temple or ceremonial platforms.
🏡 The village likely had over 150 houses, with extended family groups living in each, and it served as a hub for trade with other groups.
🔄 The Caddo traded items like bowdark wood, pottery, salt, and corn for stone objects, shells, copper, and ceremonial objects from distant regions.
📉 After five centuries, the Caddo political system declined, and the site was abandoned, with the people dispersing into smaller villages.
🚶 The Spanish later used existing Caddo trade routes, including one known as El Camino Real de los Tejas, or the Royal Road of the Tejas Indians.
🔍 Archaeological research, including the use of a magnetometer, has revealed much about the early Caddo, including the size and density of the settlement.
🏞️ The Caddo Mounds site, now preserved and open to the public, offers a glimpse into the social structure and culture of this earlier time.
🔗 Despite cultural disruption and the lack of written records, elements of Caddo culture have survived, including pottery, language, and traditional dances.

Q & A

Who were the Haciene and Caddo, and what did they establish around twelve hundred years ago?
-The Haciene and Caddo were Native Americans who established a village on the banks of the Natchez River in East Texas around twelve hundred years ago. This village later developed into a major ceremonial center.
Why was the location of the Caddo village significant?
-The location provided access to extensive trade routes and lands rich with fertile soil, abundant game, fish, and water, which contributed to the village's growth and prosperity.
What developments occurred during the 500 years of the village's flourishing?
-During this time, an elite class of spiritual and political leaders emerged, governing a population of 600 to 900 people. Corn became a major crop, the bow and arrow replaced the spear for hunting, and pottery was created for everyday use and artistic expression.
What were the three mounds constructed in the village for?
-The three mounds were constructed to mark important ceremonial areas. One was a burial mound for community leaders, and the other two were temple or ceremonial platforms used for religious activities and community gatherings.
How did the Caddo village's trade system function?
-The Caddo village was a hub for trade with other groups. They traded items such as bowdark wood, pottery vessels, salt, corn, and other goods for exquisite stone objects, shells, copper, and ceremonial objects from as far away as Illinois.
Why was the Caddo political system eventually abandoned?
-It is not known exactly why the Caddo political system waned after five centuries, but the site was abandoned, and the Caddo people dispersed into smaller villages.
How did the Spanish use the existing Caddo trade routes?
-The Spanish used the existing Caddo trade routes as their roads through the region, with one such route becoming known as El Camino Real de los Tejas, or the Royal Road of the Tejas Indians.
What was the significance of the first excavation at the site conducted by the Federal Works Progress Administration?
-The first excavation, conducted between 1939 and 1941, involved the excavation of the high temple mound, uncovering ceramic and stone ceremonial artifacts, and recording the site as the George C. Davis site.
Who led the most significant exploration of the site, and what were the outcomes?
-Archaeologist Deanne Story from the University of Texas at Austin led the most significant exploration from 1968 through 1970, during which thousands of artifacts were excavated and analyzed.
How has modern technology contributed to the understanding of the Caddo village site?
-A machine called a magnetometer, which uses sensors to measure magnetic anomalies beneath the ground surface, has been instrumental in locating structures and cultural features at the site without digging.
What efforts are being made by the Caddo Nation today to preserve their traditional practices?
-The Caddo Nation in Winger, Oklahoma, is working to preserve traditional Caddo practices, including the revival of pottery traditions that were lost for over a century, and the teaching of the Caddo language to the younger generation.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Flourishing Caddo Village and Its Cultural Evolution

This paragraph details the establishment and evolution of a Caddo village in East Texas around 1200 years ago. The village, strategically located along the Natchez River, became a major ceremonial center due to its access to trade routes and fertile lands. It flourished for 500 years under the governance of an elite class, reaching a population of 600 to 900 people. Technological advancements such as the bow and arrow and pottery for daily use and artistic expression were adopted. The village also constructed three mounds for ceremonial and burial purposes, which grew over time. The Caddo engaged in extensive trade, exchanging goods like wood, pottery, salt, and corn for stone objects, shells, copper, and ceremonial items. Despite its prosperity, the village was eventually abandoned after five centuries, and the Caddo dispersed into smaller settlements. The mounds still stand as a testament to their social structure.

05:00

🛣️ The Legacy of the Caddo and Preservation of Their Culture

The second paragraph discusses the impact of European colonization on the Caddo people, leading to their displacement and eventual resettlement in what is now Oklahoma. Despite cultural disruptions and the lack of written records, elements of Caddo culture have survived to the present day. Phil Cross, a Caddo Indian, reflects on the connection between his current culture and the distant past. The Caddo Nation in Oklahoma is actively preserving traditional practices, with the rare Caddo language being taught to younger generations. Traditional dances are still performed, and a lost pottery tradition has been revived. Jerry Redcorn, a Caddo Indian, shares his experience in reviving the pottery tradition. The remaining mounds serve as a reminder of the Caddo's thriving and complex culture, offering an opportunity to tell their story as part of Texas's rich history.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Haciene Caddo

The Haciene Caddo refers to a Native American tribe that established a village along the banks of the Natchez River in East Texas around twelve hundred years ago. They are central to the video's theme as the main subject of the historical narrative, illustrating the early settlement and cultural development of the area.

💡Ceremony

Ceremony is a significant aspect of the Haciene Caddo culture highlighted in the video. The village developed into a major ceremonial center, indicating the importance of rituals and gatherings in their society. The term is used to describe the religious activities and community events that took place on the ceremonial platforms or mounds.

💡Trade Routes

Trade routes were essential for the Haciene Caddo, providing access to resources and connecting them with other groups. The video mentions that the village's location offered extensive trade routes, which facilitated the exchange of goods such as bows, pottery, salt, corn, and ceremonial objects, emphasizing the economic and social interactions of the time.

💡Mounds

Mounds in the script refer to the three constructed earthworks that marked important ceremonial areas. They served different purposes: one as a burial mound for community leaders, and the other two as temple or ceremonial platforms. The mounds grew in height over time, reflecting the village's development and the increasing complexity of its social structure.

💡Population

The population of the Haciene Caddo village is mentioned as ranging between 600 to 900 individuals, consisting of farmers, hunters, and craftspeople. This detail is crucial to understanding the scale of the community and its ability to support a diverse range of occupations, which is indicative of a thriving and complex society.

💡Technological Advancements

The script discusses technological advancements such as the introduction of corn as a major crop and the bow and arrow replacing the spear for hunting. These advancements allowed for more efficient agriculture and hunting practices, contributing to the village's prosperity and the overall theme of cultural evolution.

💡Pottery

Pottery is highlighted in the video as both a practical tool for everyday use and a medium for artistic expression. The creation of pottery signifies the village's artistic and cultural development, as well as their ability to produce goods for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes.

💡Archaeological Research

Archaeological research plays a significant role in the video, providing insights into the early Caddo through excavations and analysis of artifacts. The first excavation mentioned was conducted by the Federal Works Progress Administration, and later by Deanne Story, whose work contributed to the understanding of the site's history and the Caddo culture.

💡Magnetometer

A magnetometer is a device used in the video's narrative to detect magnetic anomalies beneath the ground surface, indicating human occupation. This non-invasive method has been instrumental in mapping the site's activities and cultural features without the need for excavation, offering a modern approach to archaeological investigation.

💡Cultural Preservation

Cultural preservation is a key theme in the video, as it discusses the efforts of the Caddo Nation to maintain their traditions despite historical disruptions. The script mentions the revival of pottery traditions and the teaching of the Caddo language to younger generations, showcasing the importance of maintaining cultural heritage.

💡Colonization

Colonization is a historical process that had a profound impact on the Caddo people, as described in the video. The arrival of Europeans and subsequent colonization led to the displacement and expulsion of the native people from their homelands, a significant event that shaped the narrative of the Caddo's history and their struggle for cultural continuity.

Highlights

The Haciene and Caddo established a village 1200 years ago in East Texas with access to trade routes and fertile lands.

The village flourished for 500 years as a major ceremonial center governed by an elite class of leaders.

A population of 600 to 900 farmers, hunters, and craftspeople lived in the village at its peak.

Corn became a major crop, and the bow and arrow replaced the spear for hunting, while pottery was used for everyday purposes and artistic expression.

Three mounds were constructed for ceremonial areas and burial of community leaders, growing in height over time.

The village had over 150 houses, with extended family groups living in each.

Caddo Mounds became a hub for trade with other groups, exchanging goods like wood, pottery, salt, corn, and ceremonial objects.

The Spanish used existing Caddo trade routes, known as El Camino Real de los Tejas, as their roads through the region.

Archaeological research at the site began in 1939 with the Federal Works Progress Administration.

Deanne Story led a significant exploration of the site from 1968 to 1970, uncovering thousands of artifacts.

The site was acquired by the state in 1974 for preservation, research, and public access.

A magnetometer and aerial photography have been used to map the site without excavation.

European settlers colonized the area and expelled the native people, leading to the Caddo's resettlement in Oklahoma.

Despite cultural disruption, elements of the Caddo culture have survived, including bowl making and traditional dances.

The Caddo Nation in Oklahoma works to preserve traditional practices and the Caddo language.

Caddo potters have revived a pottery tradition that was lost for over a century.

The mounds serve as a reminder of the thriving and complex native culture and contribute to Texas's rich history.