The iconic Native American mounds on the 91茄子 campus 鈥 thousands of years old, and by some accounts the oldest man-made structures on the continent 鈥 are showing their age.
In some places, the grass has faded, leaving behind patches of earth. One mound is deformed and no longer has its original cone-like shape. 91茄子 says students and visitors walking, sliding and biking on the sites has accelerated the deterioration.
But the university is moving forward in preserving the mounds for generations to come, thanks to a $220,000 grant from the National Park Service that 91茄子 matched for a project that totals more than $440,000. Planning and design are complete, and the project will start accepting bids from contractors in the next few weeks, CARBO Landscape Architecture project manager Hayden Hammons said Thursday afternoon during a public meeting to discuss the restoration plans.
Hayden Hammons, project manager at Carbo Landscape Architecture, delivers a presentation on the restoration of the 91茄子 campus mounds on Thursday, November 5, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Staff photo by Michael Johnson
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Hammons said the project has been straightforward so far and has not deviated from the initial proposal. The preservation work will address mound erosion and improve the stability with revegetation, a new irrigation system and the removal of sidewalks near the structures.
But the project requires greater cultural sensitivity and collaboration than the average landscaping endeavor, Hammons said.
鈥淭his site, it鈥檚 a different beast for sure,鈥 he said.
While a timeline has not been set for the project鈥檚 completion, 91茄子 campus landscape architect Dennis Mitchell said construction should last a couple of months once a contract is finalized. Though much of the work will not necessarily be visible to the naked eye, he anticipates the preservation will also help raise awareness for the mounds and their historical significance.
Indigenous tribes likely used the sites for trade or special ceremonies, experts believe.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e hoping is it draws attention to the fact that we have a historic artifact on our map, on our campus,鈥 Mitchell said.
State Representative Dixon McMakin asks a question during a presentation by Carbo Landscape Architecture on the restoration of the 91茄子 campus mounds on Thursday, November 5, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Staff photo by Michael Johnson
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
State Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, who attended the meeting Thursday, said he supports the measures to shore up the mounds but does not agree that pedestrians should be restricted from the sites. The university put up temporary barriers on game days to keep people off the mounds throughout the 2010s before installing the fencing that stands around them today.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 keep your trophies hidden and for people not to use them,鈥 McMakin said. 鈥淵ou show them off, you let people use them. And by using them, more people can learn about the great history of our Indigenous people in Louisiana, and I think that鈥檚 a win for everybody.鈥
He questioned why the mounds have continued to erode despite having been fenced off for several years.
Mitchell said drought has caused further damage. The new irrigation system will help solve that problem while avoiding oversaturation of the mounds, which occurred in their modern history when a sprinkler was used on top of the structures, he said.
鈥淚t created potentially more problems than the good that we were doing,鈥 Mitchell said.
The new method of irrigation will water the dirt and sediment from the bottom up, he said.
Attendees of the meeting asked about the involvement of the 91茄子 Native American Student Organization as well as local tribes. Hammons said project leaders reached out to a handful of tribes with jurisdiction when preservation began and have worked closely with the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. Tribal consultants, for example, will help ensure the sidewalks are removed with minimal impact to the site, he said.
Hali Dardar of Bvlbancha Public Access, a media group focused on Indigenous representation in the Gulf South, emphasized the significance of the mounds beyond the 91茄子 community.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very important to state that there are Indigenous people who are still here,鈥 Dardar said. The mounds 鈥渁re one of the most visible representations of Indigenous continued presence in the state.鈥