Parkin Archaeological State Park

I have been meaning to take a day trip to Parkin Archaeological State Park in Parkin, Arkansas, for years and never have, so it was a delight to stop here on the way home. They have an orientation theater with a nice video and some displays. We were impressed with the chain mail, which was made by a local craftsman. There is a separate exhibit hall illustrating the history of the site. Artifacts from the site are displayed in glass cases. There is a photo tour here. There is a 3/4 mile circular path through the site, leading past remains of the moat and mound, St. Francis River overlook, an old cemetery from early 20th-century residents who built a town on the site, locations of previous excavations.... I was disappointed that no excavations are displayed and no layers of discovery can be seen. It's all mowed lawn and explanatory signs. But it was still well worth the price of admission and the time spent. There are a couple of similar sites not far from here, and seeing this one makes me think they might also be worth a trip.


The photo at the top of the post is from Heironymous Rowe at Wikipedia.