But what, we may wonder, were these strange mounds used for? While, by and large, these structures remain a mystery, the core samples taken from the soil for radio-carbon dating have given us some tantalizing clues. Upon examination, pieces of bone and plant material extracted from the mounds have revealed that large fires were likely lit at these sites (via Reveille) — and they raged at very high temperatures.
It has also been suggested that the earthen mounds, thick with ash and clay, were built gradually over a number of years. The first of which (mound B), was in use between 11,000 to 8,200 years ago, while the second mound (mound A) was built around 7,500 years ago. According to LiveScience, some researchers believe that the infernos that burned here (far too hot for making food), may have served some religious function.
In the future, other clues regarding the reason behind their existence may come from similar sites elsewhere. While the LSU mounds may be the oldest, they are by no means the only examples of their kind in North America. Back in 1997, the Watson Brake mound (also located in Louisiana) was hailed as one of the oldest archaeological sites in North America (via The New York Times), created up to 5,000 years ago. These mounds and numerous others, make up a fascinating historic region across the deep south.
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