In Macon, Georgia off of interstate 16 lies the Mississippian Indian's mounds. The park address is 1207 Emery Hwy. Macon, Georgia 31217. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the park gates closing at 5. On the published date of this blog, they are closed Monday-Thursday. The park follows a "leave no trace" rule so be mindful of any water bottles or anything else you may bring along! I did not have to pay any fee, but the visitors center and museum was not open, though they do have a museum shop with very interesting souvenirs and also accept donations.
These mounds are over 1,000 years old. This location served as an outpost for them, conveniently located by the Ocmulgee river. When you visit this beautiful spot, you will see their Earth lodge that served as their council chamber. It is 42 feet in diameter and still has the original clay floor. The village site is where many of their structures sat. There is also a cornfield mound that was 8 feet tall and is believed to be a ceremonial building platform, as the Mississippians farmed bottomlands. You will also find the Great Temple and Lesser Temple Mounds. The Greater Temple mound is the largest mound in Macon, Georgia. It is 55 feet in height and the base is about 300 ft. by 270 ft. The Lesser Temple Mound had wooden structures on top of it at a point in time. It is believed that this mound was used for ceremonies and housed the elite. Because of railroad construction in the early 1800's, part of the Lesser Temple Mound is destroyed. A funeral mound also lies at this park where over 100 burials have been uncovered. Some were buried with copper ornaments and shells suggesting that that person had a status within their tribe, while most were buried with none. Alongside the Mississippians artifacts, there is also a trading post site from 1690 where British traders in Charleston, South Carolina would trade along the Muscogee Creek. Firearms, cloth, and trinkets would be traded for furs and skins. Remains have been found here such as axes, pipes, beads, knives, swords, bullets, flints, pistols, and muskets.
While there is so much history to uncover here, there are also beautiful trails that go throughout the park and even alongside the Ocmulgee river and under I-16. Be sure to stay hydrated on your trip and put on sunscreen- my friend and I got a tad burned!
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