CADDOAN MOUNDS: Experience life as the Caddoan people 
did ... we'll explain on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Among the visitors to the Caddoan Mounds State Historic 
site west of Nacogdoches, two extremes have emerged.

"One is the people that look out over the grounds and the 
mounds and remark, 'Oh, I can hear the songs; I can smell the 
smoke.' The other extreme looks out the backdoor and say, 
'What's out there? Is that just a pile of dirt?' Well, that's when I 
have to work and earn my money. "

And Jim Herold enjoys earning his money. He introduces 
visitors to the ancient Caddo people who built a village 
and burial mounds at the location.

"North American mounds were earthen structures; they served 
two purposes. One type - and we have one of that type here - is 
the burial mound. The other type is ceremonial, and we have 
two ceremonial mounds here. "

Although the Caddo had hundreds of chiefs in the five 
hundred years they occupied the site, only the elite of the 
elite - or approximately 90 chiefs -- were interred in the 
burial mound. 

"Here we have the Caddo equivalent of Washington, Jefferson, 
Lincoln ... not all the chiefs, just certain very special ones are 
buried there."

On October 15 visit the site during its Pinywoods 
Archeology Fair, and immerse yourself in an ancient 
culture through activities and demonstrations. 

"Although their culture was somewhat different from us, as 
fellow human beings, we are more alike than we are different."

You can find directions to the site on the TPWD website.
go outside and play ... For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm 
Cecilia Nasti.