Natchez — The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will present an illustrated talk by Jessica Crawford titled “The Troyville (Jonesville) Indian Mounds” in the museum auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Admission is free and seating is limited.

First described in 1804 by William Dunbar, the Troyville Mounds at present-day Jonesville included at least nine mounds dominated by one large mound that was approximately 80 feet in height.

Now that the 1931 bridge has been removed, archaeologists are making discoveries in the dirt from the former mound and a small scale reproduction is under construction.

Crawford is Southeastern regional director for the Archaeological Conservancy and she works out of her home in Quitman County. Through her efforts, the Conservancy has acquired numerous archaeological sites in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Many of these sites were in danger of being destroyed.

Before being named head of the Conservancy’s Southeast Region office, she served as project coordinator and delta field representative. She received her master of arts degree in anthropology from the University of Mississippi in 2003 and she has worked on archaeological excavations with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, and the University of Mississippi.