Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds

burkbuilds · 05-23-2010, 10:29 PM

Okay, this is probably kinda boring, but a few weeks ago I came up Highway 41 and looked for these things and couldn't find any signs telling me where they were, so today, riding back to school on I-75, I saw the signs and followed them to the Indian Mounds. Indian mounds were made by Native Americans long before the time of Columbus. There is not much actually known about them, but the generally accepted archeological explanation is that the Indians built these "mounds" as a burial place for their dead and a ceremonial place. It's kinda interesting that different ancient cultures around the globe often did similar things, and we rarely know the exact purpose or what went on there in the past. The druids also had "mounds" and of course the Egyptians and Aztecs and Incas all built various forms of pyramids as burial and ceremonial sites.

Those gray things are tree stumps. Not sure if you can tell in my photos. I couldn't get very close today the area was closed so I just had to snap pictures from the roadway through the fence. I assume that archeologists think they were just grass hills when the Indians built them, and so in recent years the trees were removed down to the stumps so they wouldn't obscure the view of the mounds.

BusyWeb · 05-23-2010, 10:58 PM

That's nice looking photos.
I've never seen those myself except from school textbook..
Thanks for the sharing.

burkbuilds · 05-24-2010, 01:29 AM

BusyWeb, this was my first experience seeing them other than in a textbook as well. I was surprised at how large they were. There's not a lot in the photos that shows a scale except maybe the wooden stairway leading up the side of the largest mound in the first picture. I can't imagine how much work it would be to move that much dirt without machinery, truly an amazing feat. My estimate based on the railing height on the stairs is that these babies are 60-70' tall. That's a six-seven story building, pretty amazing considering they had no metal tools, and probably no wheels to help move the dirt along. It must have taken a lot of Indians a long time to do this, which implies an organized leadership capable of compelling them either under threat of punishment, out of great respect, or from religious devotion or fear.

GZ250 · 05-27-2010, 11:25 PM

tree stumps are visible in the last picture. no one ever tried to open/dig these, at least one mound to see whats in there, may be something interesting in there.

Water Warrior 2 · 05-28-2010, 12:40 AM

The mounds are a sacred place that should not be messed with. I do share your curiosity and we all have a thirst for knowledge and history but I am sure the Natives would be more than a little miffed if some one starts digging.

GZ250 · 05-31-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

The mounds are a sacred place that should not be messed with. I do share your curiosity and we all have a thirst for knowledge and history but I am sure the Natives would be more than a little miffed if some one starts digging.

Good joke for or about Natives......... :biggrin:

Easy Rider · 05-31-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ250

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

The mounds are a sacred place that should not be messed with. I do share your curiosity and we all have a thirst for knowledge and history but I am sure the Natives would be more than a little miffed if some one starts digging.

Good joke for or about Natives......... :biggrin:

What ?? Explain that comment a bit, please. :??:

BillInGA · 05-31-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

What ?? Explain that comment a bit, please. :??:

read in some sexual innuendo...

Easy Rider · 05-31-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillInGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

What ?? Explain that comment a bit, please. :??:

read in some sexual innuendo...

Booooo. LONG stretch.....and not funny. :neener:

05-23-2010, 10:29 PM	#1
burkbuilds Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shannon, Georgia Posts: 1,268	Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds Okay, this is probably kinda boring, but a few weeks ago I came up Highway 41 and looked for these things and couldn't find any signs telling me where they were, so today, riding back to school on I-75, I saw the signs and followed them to the Indian Mounds. Indian mounds were made by Native Americans long before the time of Columbus. There is not much actually known about them, but the generally accepted archeological explanation is that the Indians built these "mounds" as a burial place for their dead and a ceremonial place. It's kinda interesting that different ancient cultures around the globe often did similar things, and we rarely know the exact purpose or what went on there in the past. The druids also had "mounds" and of course the Egyptians and Aztecs and Incas all built various forms of pyramids as burial and ceremonial sites. Those gray things are tree stumps. Not sure if you can tell in my photos. I couldn't get very close today the area was closed so I just had to snap pictures from the roadway through the fence. I assume that archeologists think they were just grass hills when the Indians built them, and so in recent years the trees were removed down to the stumps so they wouldn't obscure the view of the mounds. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-23-2010, 10:58 PM	#2
BusyWeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 626	Re: Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds That's nice looking photos. I've never seen those myself except from school textbook.. Thanks for the sharing. __________________ BusyWeb
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05-24-2010, 01:29 AM	#3
burkbuilds Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shannon, Georgia Posts: 1,268	Re: Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds BusyWeb, this was my first experience seeing them other than in a textbook as well. I was surprised at how large they were. There's not a lot in the photos that shows a scale except maybe the wooden stairway leading up the side of the largest mound in the first picture. I can't imagine how much work it would be to move that much dirt without machinery, truly an amazing feat. My estimate based on the railing height on the stairs is that these babies are 60-70' tall. That's a six-seven story building, pretty amazing considering they had no metal tools, and probably no wheels to help move the dirt along. It must have taken a lot of Indians a long time to do this, which implies an organized leadership capable of compelling them either under threat of punishment, out of great respect, or from religious devotion or fear. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-27-2010, 11:25 PM	#4
GZ250 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 334	Re: Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds tree stumps are visible in the last picture. no one ever tried to open/dig these, at least one mound to see whats in there, may be something interesting in there. __________________ “God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” “People understand me so poorly that they don't even understand my complaint about them not understanding me.” --- Søren Kierkegaard ---
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05-28-2010, 12:40 AM	#5
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Etowa, Georgia's Indian Mounds The mounds are a sacred place that should not be messed with. I do share your curiosity and we all have a thirst for knowledge and history but I am sure the Natives would be more than a little miffed if some one starts digging. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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