The Poverty Point site was the center of government, religion, and trade for Indians living in an area larger than the state of Louisiana. People who lived at the site made certain objects unlike those that earlier or later Indians made. These objects, called artifacts, include carved stone beads, clay cooking balls, clay figures of women, iron weights, and stone containers. Indians at other sites at the same time also made these artifacts. This shows they were in contact with the people at the Poverty Point site.
Archaeologists think they had the same way of life, or culture.
All these Indians are called Poverty Point Indians because they shared the Poverty Point culture. The Division of Archaeology maintains a library of books and videos , which may be checked out by teachers for use in the classroom, or at home in the case of home schooling. An Introduction to Louisiana Archaeology presents an overview of the archaeological study of Native American sites in Louisiana. High school and beyond Ancient America presents a well-illustrated introduction to the prehistory of the Western Hemisphere. Middle school, high school Ancient Shipwrecks discusses how shipwrecks excavated in the Mediterranean have given further insight into ancient cultures and sailing technology.