Audio
“A Well-Organized Society.” Emerald Mound, Milepost 10, Panel B
Transcript
The Great Sun, the leader of the Natchez people, is the central image on the second exhibit titled “A Well-Organized Society.” In the drawing, shown within a bright orange circle, the Great Sun, a man who wears a circle of vertical feathers on his head, sits under an arched cover on an elevated platform carried by eight men using long poles that rest on their shoulders. The men wear only loin clothes.
At the bottom of the panel there is a timeline with the dates of American Indian mounds along the Parkway. [Text]
Emerald Mound was the product of a complex society organized to serve and sustain the welfare of its people beginning eight centuries ago. Life revolved around family relationships and well understood rules. An elite family, the Suns, held special status as royalty, and the Great Sun was the highest ranked of all. Although aligned with a deity, the Great Sun’s power rose or fell with the people’s quality of life. Tribal prosperity rested on pooled resources and wise leadership. The elite not only played a ceremonial role in their layered society, they controlled surplus corn, which they shared in times of need. Only powerful leaders could have mustered and inspired the workforce needed for the years of labor that produced Emerald Mound.
In 1758, French naturalist Antoine Le Page du Pratz published his firsthand account of life among the Natchez Indians. This sketch shows the Great Sun, the man Du Pratz called “the sovereign of the nation.” The Natchez people, whose ancestors built this mound, have continued cultural traditions from Emerald Mound’s time.
The timeline begins on the left with the Middle Woodland Period, 200 BCE (before common era). It ends on the right with the Late Mississippian Period, 1600 CE (common era).
Emerald Mound dates from 1250 CE but continued in use into the 1600s. The Natchez people, whose ancestors built this mound, preserve cultural traditions practiced at Emerald Mound. Bynum Mounds are the oldest on the timeline dating to 100 BCE. Construction of Pharr Mounds began around 0 CE. Boyd Mound dates to around 800 CE. Mangum Mound, Bear Creek Mound, and Emerald Mound were built much later and fall into the Mississippian Period.
To the right of the timeline, there is a logo of an American Indian Mound that says “Protect Sacred Sites”
There is a zig-zag split rail fence in front of you. It extends to your left and has a gate to a trail to Emerald Mound’s upper level. The fence continues to your right along the base of the mound.
There is another interpretive panel on your left. A large routed wood sign stands about 15 feet to your right. To your right about 50 feet are two more exhibits with more information about the mound.
Description
The Great Sun, the leader of the Natchez people, is the central image on the second exhibit titled “A Well-Organized Society.” In the drawing, shown within a bright orange circle, the Great Sun, a man who wears a circle of vertical feathers on his head, sits under an arched cover on an elevated platform carried by eight men using long poles that rest on their shoulders. The men wear only loin clothes.
Duration
3 minutes, 17 seconds
Credit
NPS
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