Spiro Mounds: The Pyramids of Oklahoma

Check out "The Book" here for 10% off: https://mdsh.io/wo3pnfabg0 (Use code: BARNHART10) The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization by Hungry Minds is a luxury coffee table book packed with handmade illustrations and mind-expanding ideas. If you’re into unique gifts, premium books, or just love going down rabbit holes, this one’s for you. Spiro was an ancient Mississippian city in northeastern Oklahoma that flourished for centuries and grew into one of the most important centers on the western edge of the Mississippian world. At its height in the 14th century, the city was home to more than 10,000 people, with earthen pyramids, a massive 80-acre plaza, hundreds of homes, and a formal court for playing the game of chunkey. In this video, Ed Barnhart explores the history of Spiro, its connections to other major Mississippian cities such as Cahokia, Moundville, and Etowah, and the cultures that influenced its development. He also examines Spiro's remarkable long-distance trade network, which reached across North America and included unusual materials from far beyond the Mississippian world. Spiro was also known for producing some of the most elaborate artwork of the Mississippian civilization. Ed looks at its copper and shell artwork, supernatural figures, weapons, ceremonial objects, and the distinctive imagery connected to Caddoan traditions. But Spiro's story also has a tragic chapter. In the early 20th century, the site suffered extensive looting, particularly at Craig Mound, where a remarkable burial complex known as the Great Mortuary had preserved perishable materials for centuries. Ed explains what happened to the site and how later archaeological work helped recover part of its history. Today, Spiro remains an important archaeological site and a place where the history, art, trade, and traditions of the ancient Mississippian world can still be explored. #SpiroMounds #Spiro #MississippianCulture #Archaeology #AncientAmerica #AncientHistory #NativeAmericanHistory #OklahomaHistory #Caddoan #EdBarnhart