Some archaeological sites in New Madrid County, Missouri have restricted addresses for good reason

Murphy Mound Archeological Site. (2023, August 8).Photo byNyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

New Madrid County is located in what people refer to as the Bootheel of Missouri. When people hear New Madrid, they probably think about the major Missouri earthquake of December 16, 1811. They may not be aware of all the notable archaeological sites in New Madrid County.

Several archaeological sites in New Madrid County were listed on the National Register of Historic Places with restricted addresses (some are listed below). Visit here to see the archaeological sites and museums open to the public.

1. Common Field Archaeological Site listed on July 29, 1969
2. Lilbourn Fortified Village Archaeological Site listed July 29, 1969
3. Sikeston Fortified Village Archaeological Site listed February 12, 1971
4. Hurricane Ridge Site listed November 9, 1972
5. Double Bridges Archaeological Site listed July 25, 1974
6. La Plant Archaeological Site listed July 25, 1974
7. King II Archaeological Site listed June 26, 1975
8. St. Johns-La Plant IV Archaeological District Listed August 28, 1975
9. Portwood Village and Mound listed November 25, 1977

The addresses of these sites are noted as restricted on the Missouri State Parks website for National Register listings for good reason. The restricted addresses protect the integrity of the sites and prevent access that's not authorized. Also, the sites are likely on private property where owners don't want the public on their property.

Common Field Archaeological Site near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.Photo byNyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Common Field Archaeological Site is interesting because it was chiefly uncovered after the 1979 Mississippi River flood. This site is along the Mississippi River in the bottom lands and includes the remains of a Native American platform mound.

The chipped-stone Lilbourn mace was a unique artifact found at the Lilbourn site. It dates back to the Middle Mississippian period (A.D. 1200 – 1400). The Mississippian or Mound Builder are terms representing the Native American culture. The Lilbourn Fortified Village Site is the name of the main settlement in the New Madrid area.

The Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) curates data on more than 18,000 archaeological sites recorded in the state by professional and amateur archaeologists and we encourage all Missouri citizens to document and report sites they have encountered for inclusion in the Missouri SHPO Site File. (Source.)

While the opening image is in nearby Pemiscot County, Missouri (Murphy Mound Archaeological Site), it's an example of a site on private property not open to the public. It was also listed on the National Register and many items have been found there. This particular site might be the largest Mississippian culture site found in Missouri.

Examples of stone tools used by the Mississippians that include awls, hoes, scrapers and fish hooks.Photo byFacebook/New Madrid Historical Museum.

Some reasons why the public aren't invited to specific archaeological sites are listed below.

• Fragility - some sites might invite damage to any artifacts if the public were allowed to the area.
• Safety - some sites may not be safe it they include unstable structures or the terrain is identified as hazardous.
• Cultural preservation - one obvious concern is vandalism.
• Rural remote locations - some sites don't have the appropriate infrastructure for public access.

The New Madrid Historical Museum has many items from the Mississippian culture. The museum is located at No.1 South Main Street, New Madrid, Missouri.

Thanks for reading.