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==Origin==
Middle French ''plate''-''forme'' diagram, map, ''literally'', flat form
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1535]
==Definitions==
*1: [[plan]], [[design]]
*2: a [[declaration]] of the [[principles]] on which a group of persons stands; especially : a declaration of principles and [[policies]] [[adopted]] by a [[political]] party or a [[candidate]]
*3a (1) : a usually raised [[horizontal]] flat [[surface]]; especially : a raised flooring (2) : a device or [[structure]] incorporating or providing a platform; especially : such a structure on legs used for offshore drilling (as for oil)
:b : a place or [[opportunity]] for public [[discussion]]
*4a : a usually thick layer (as of cork) between the inner sole and outer sole of a shoe
:b : a shoe having such a sole
*5: a : a vehicle (as a [[satellite]] or aircraft) used for a particular [[purpose]] or to carry a usually specified kind of equipment
:b : operating system; also : the [[computer]] architecture and equipment using a particular operating system
==Description==
A '''platform mound''' is any earthwork or mound intended to [[support]] a [[structure]] or activity.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States indigenous peoples of North America] built substructure mounds for well over a thousand years starting in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaic_period_in_the_Americas Archaic period] and continuing through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodland_period Woodland period]. Many different archaeological cultures ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_Point_culture Poverty Point culture], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troyville_culture Troyville culture], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coles_Creek_culture Coles Creek culture], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaquemine_culture Plaquemine culture] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culture Mississippian culture]) of North Americas Eastern Woodlands are specifically well known for using platform mounds as a central aspect of their overarching [[religious]] [[practices]] and [[beliefs]]. These platform mounds are usually four-sided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frustum truncated pyramids], steeply sided, with steps built of wooden logs ascending one side of the earthworks. When European first arrived in North America, the peoples of the Mississippian culture were still using and building platform mounds. Documented uses for Mississippian platform mounds include semi-public chief's house platforms, public temple platforms, mortuary platforms, charnel house platforms, earth lodge/town house platforms, residence platforms, square ground and rotunda platforms, and dance platforms.

Mound C at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etowah_Mounds Etowah Mounds] has been found to have more than 100 intrusive [[burials]] into the final layer of the mound, with many grave goods such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repouss%C3%A9_and_chasing repoussé] plates of beaten copper, monolithic stone axes, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culture_pottery ceremonial pottery] and carved whelk [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_gorgets#Mississippian shell gorgets]. Also interred in this mound was a paired set of white marble [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_stone_statuary#Etowah Mississippian stone statues].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_mound]

[[Category: Anthropology]]
[[Category: Archaeology]]