Arkansas State Parks (ASP) and the Arkansas Archeological Survey (ARAS) have announced the designation of three Arkansas State Parks as Arkansas State Archeological Landmarks. This historic designation, authorized under Arkansas Code § 13-6-306 (2020), provides official recognition and enhanced protection for sites of significance to the scientific study and public representation of Arkansas’ aboriginal past.
The newly designated State Archeological Landmarks are:
- Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park
- Parkin Archeological State Park
- Davidsonville Historic State Park
These sites have been recognized in collaboration with Arkansas State Parks, ARAS, and the Quapaw Nation, the descendant community of the Native American groups who built and lived at these locations.
Significance of the Sites
- Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park: Dating back nearly 2,000 years to the Woodland period (~300 CE–1000 CE), this site features 18 mounds, plazas and an earthen embankment wall, which Native Americans used for cultural connection, religious ceremonies and exchange. The site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
- Parkin Archeological State Park: Once the center of a large chiefdom (1350–1600 CE), Parkin Archeological State Park is believed to be the site where Hernando de Soto encountered the Casqui people, ancestors of the Quapaw Nation. The site includes Spanish trade goods, such as the Clarksdale Bell and Chevron bead, linking it to early European contact.
- Davidsonville Historic State Park: While widely known as Arkansas’ first county seat, archeological evidence suggests a much longer history, with artifacts dating back to the Archaic period (8500–1000 BCE). The historic courthouse was likely built atop a Mississippian mound, similar to those found at Parking Archeological State Park.
The Arkansas Archeological Survey, established in 1967, continues its mission of studying, preserving and sharing Arkansas’ past. Through ongoing collaboration with Arkansas State Parks and the Quapaw Nation, the organization is dedicated to furthering archeological research and public education.
