These 6 Ancient Mounds Reveal Centuries of History In Georgia
By Lisa Sammons|Published July 25, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
You don’t have to be a Peach State expert or a historian to know that we have a lot of history in Georgia. We were one of the original 13 colonies, after all! However, our history goes back much further than that, as the land that is now Georgia was resided in for thousands of years by Native Americans. While much of the evidence of these civilizations has been lost to time, you can still see some remnants of these ancient cities. It’s utterly fascinating to be in the presence of something so old. Check out a few of these ancient Native American mounds in Georgia:
Both the Rock Eagle Effigy Mound and the Rock Hawk Effigy Mound are tucked away near quiet Eatonton. The large bird-shaped piles of stones were constructed between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago by the Woodland tribe. The Rock Eagle is over 100 feet in length and 120 feet from wing tip to wing tip. These are the only two effigy mounds that have been discovered east of the Mississippi River. It is thought that they were used in ceremonial proceedings.
2. Etowah Mounds: Cartersville
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, 813 Indian Mound Rd SE, Cartersville, GA 30120, USA
The Etowah Mounds are located in Cartersville. This area was once home to thousands of Native Americans. It's now among the most intact Mississippian sites in the country. You'll find six mounds here, as well as a ditch and other formations. The largest of the mounds is 63 feet tall and was likely used to house the chief. There are also several burial mounds on the site.
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3. Kolomoki Mounds: Blakely
Kolomoki Mounds State Park - Museum, 205, 205 Indian Mounds Rd, Blakely, GA 39823, USA
The Kolomoki Mounds are the largest and oldest Woodland site in the region. The area was occupied by the tribe from about 350 to 750 A.D. The tallest mound here is about 60 feet tall, but there are eight mounds in all.
While it's not as visually impressive as the other sites on this list, we'd be remiss to not mention Leake Mounds. These are just a few miles west of the Etowah Mounds, and they're actually several years older than their more famous neighbors. The site had three large mounds and a ditch that were (sadly) razed to use as road fill for highway expansion in the 1940s. Many ancient pieces of pottery and other artifacts have been discovered at archaeological digs at the site. If you visit today, there are interpretive signs to tell you more about the culture that once thrived here.
5. Nacoochee Mound: Helen
Nacoochee Indian Mound, 7086 Unicoi Turnpike, Helen, GA 30545, USA
The Nacoochee Mound is on the Hardman Farm property, home to many trails. It's just outside of Helen and confuses many travelers, as it's a large, fenced-off hill in the middle of a cow pasture. This area was once home to the South Appalachian Mississippians, who constructed a 16-foot-high mound here. More than 75 humans were buried inside the mound, as well as artwork and other artifacts.
6. Ocmulgee Mounds: Macon
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, 1207 Emery Hwy, Macon, GA 31217, USA
Probably the best known Indian mounds in Georgia are the Ocmulgee Mounds in Macon, which are rumored to be a potential National Park in Georgia. The park here spans more than 3,000 acres and contains mounds built around 1000 A.D. by the Appalachian Mississippians.
Have you ever visited any of these Native American mounds in Georgia? Share your experiences in the comments!
