One of the world’s most unique and historically significant landmarks can be found tucked away in the northeastern region of Louisiana. Poverty Point was settled by indigenous peoples more than 3,000 years ago over a period of 600 years.
Characterized by earthen mounds oriented in a concentric half-circle formation, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was once a major cultural center It’s believed to have been home to hundreds, or perhaps thousands of residents by some archaeological estimates. At its height, Poverty Point was the ceremonial, cultural, and economic hub for native tribes from across the region, but was mysteriously abandoned in 1,100 CE.
There is still much to be learned about the people who constructed Poverty Point and its significance, but that doesn’t stop visitors from touring the site and walking along the ruins.
