Mound V, a broad, low, rectangular platform forming an apron to Mound B, was long known only to have a function closely tied to Mound B, where the principal chief's house stood. Small excavations in 1905 unearthed few artifacts and no burials, though some household debris was found. In the fall of 1999, a University of Alabama archaeology field school began excavating one such debris patch and uncovered the burned remains of a building much larger than those normally found at Moundville. As researchers expanded their work over the next three years, they uncovered nearly one fourth of a sod-covered earthlodge. Its main interior was a large square building with rounded corners, with walls about 36 feet long made of upright wooden posts set next to one another, reinforced with cane, plastered with mud, and painted red and white on the inside. Earth piled around the outside and over the top formed a dome-shaped exterior about 50 feet in diameter at its base, supported along the walls by leaner posts set against the exterior, while four large pine log posts inside braced the heavy roof. Two narrow log-lined tunnels connected to the eastern and western walls allowed entry and exit, and other buildings were joined to either end of each tunnel. Built more than 550 years ago, relatively late in Moundville's history as a capital town, the earthlodge may have served as a council house where Moundville's chiefs met with others to make important decisions. Artifacts recovered there include smoking pipes, pottery fragments, and a whole pottery vessel with acorns placed inside as an offering and purposely buried at one of the four large roof support posts.