Arnold E.A. Roitsch Archaeological Site and Area

"In this vicinity archeologists have located a large village and ceremonial center occupied between A.D. 1000 and A.D. 1700 by ancestors of the Caddo Indians. Sedentary farmers, the Caddos built villages and farms on alluvial terraces of the Red River. Evidence from the site has revealed a number of scattered farmsteads and two earthen mounds which served as religious or ceremonial centers. The site also has yielded Caddo ceramics, plus glass beads, and metal weapons and tools, indicating the tribes in this area traded with European explorers."

The Arnold E.A. Roitsch Archaeological Site was excavated in the early 1990's by the Texas Archaeological Society (and others) under the guidance of or at least with the input of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The site consists (or perhaps consisted) of at least two ceremonial mounds, one of which was washed away in a flood. Since there was a real danger of losing the history associated with the place, archaeologists moved quickly and examined this site, rescuing it from looters, obscurity, and natural destruction. Human remains that were recovered were reinterred as deemed appropriate by the Caddo.

The Arnold E.A. Roitsch Archaeological Site is on private property, out of sight. I did not attempt to visit the site proper, and I have heard that it may have been reclaimed by nature. I did see a man with a metal detector when I was there.

When I was in the area I was allowed to visit another Caddo site - a lesser known mound - about four miles away. I was told that this mound was the foundation of a "dwelling" as opposed to a place where ceremonies were conducted, but I have no further information. The site is, of course, a Caddo Indian site, Mississippian Culture, and artifacts from this area show that it was involved in the cryptic Southeastern Ceremonial Complex which once abounded. While there is little information about this area on the internet, there is an interesting article in .pdf format about the interaction of the TAS and the Caddo observers here. Some more, general information can be found here.

This picture was taken on private property, looking north.  Just past the mound, continuing north, is another low mound thought to contain burials.  Both are located on land owned by people who actively protect the sites against looting.

Another picture of the same mound, still looking north.

A closer view of the mound, still looking north. Although it's hard to tell, the grass is almost waist high. The trees are mainly cedar and oak. I did find an old rope and tire swing hanging in one of the trees.

This is the view standing about 300 yards northwest of the mound, and facing to the northwest. Before flood control, this flat plain would have flooded frequently and been part of a system of alluvial terraces that were farmed by the Caddo. The tree line in the distance is actually the Texas side bank of the Red River. The mound site is extremely close to the water.

This is the view just beyond the treeline in the picture above. Texas is in the foreground and Oklahoma is the background. The following pictures are all of the same area.

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