Poverty Point First La. Site Named To UN List

(Information in the following story is from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com)

DELHI, La. (AP) — A United Nations agency has named Poverty Point State Historic Site in West Carroll Parish as a World Heritage site.

The U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization says it granted the designation Sunday during a meeting in Doha, Qatar. It's one of 20 sites added worldwide in an ongoing meeting. Poverty Point is the first Louisiana site to make the worldwide list, which has now grown to 1,001 locations.

The earthworks complex includes five mounds, six concentric semi-elliptical ridges separated by shallow depressions and a central plaza. It was created and used for residential and ceremonial purposes by hunter-gatherers between 3,700 and 3,100 years ago.

The News-Star reports that Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, whose office oversees tourism promotion, sent a two-person delegation to advocate for Poverty Point.