Parkin Archaeological State Park
Introduction
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Images
A shot of the main mound on the Parkin Site.
Backstory and Context
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The site of the Parkin Archaeological State Park rests on a Native American village that is thought to have stood from around 1000 AD to 1550 AD. Much of what was found in the remains of the village has lead many archaeologists to believe that the tribe that inhabited the village encountered Hernando de Soto in 1541, specifically trade items that de Soto would have had with him during his voyages. Because of cultivation of the land in past centuries, much of the village has been lost, but despite that, it is thought to be the largest, most intact Native American village from its time period still existing in the state of Arkansas. Much of what contributes to this includes individual artifacts, as well as evidence of a wooden palisade surrounding the village, as well as a large, earthen mound.
When the town of Parkin was established in 1887, the cotton farmers of the town were unable to cultivate much on the site, due to the natural ditch that the inhabitants dug around the village’s perimeter. As a result, less cultivation of land was done there than otherwise could have occurred. Partially due to this unexpected preservation, the site was surveyed in 1965 and 1966 by nearby archaeological foundations, such as part of the University of Arkansas, as well as the Arkansas Archaeological Society, and both found the site to be sufficient for making the site into a state park. The land was acquired in 1975, but development of the park was not put into action until 1991. By 1994, the park had a visitor’s center, and since then, the Park has worked closely with the Arkansas Archaeological Survey in order to both preserve the site, as well as interpret the findings that lie therein.