Murfreesboro, Arkansas: Plastic Bones of Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village

The big diamond is still at Kadoha Indian Village.

I was bummed: no signs telling me to beware of blind dogs under my car, but still a great photo-op with the largest diamond in the world.

I saw this Indian village and mounds initially in the 1960s and '70s. Our family moved to Arkansas then. When I viewed the mounds they were intact, with burials of men, women, children, family pets, clothing, pottery, weapons, jewelry, and many other personal items.

Through the years the exposed skeletal remains, and most of the contents of each mound had to be altered to reflect growing public disdain in viewing such. Both sides can be understood; those of the native Americans, and the archaeologist.

I felt strongly that I needed to clarify what others had written about this village site. It cannot be what it once was for many reasons. Funding basically came from the donations and admissions to the village by the public.

A friend and I stopped by here hoping to see an "authentic" Indian village after picking up a flyer in the Arkansas welcome center, but the "1000 year old structures" were basically Home Depot corregated plastic sheets with sticks in front of them! Features excavated Indian burial mounds (with plastic skeletons substituted for the real ones), a plowed field where you can "hunt for arrowheads," a "museum" (small room with glass displays and prerecorded audiotape they turn on after you pay your $4 a head to enter), a gift shop with overpriced toys and souvenirs, and several blind dogs (with a sign asking you to look under your car before pulling out so you don't run one over).