Ocmulgee National Monument Background

This past Tuesday, 10/23/12, our Environmental Science class went to Ocmulgee National Mounds. We walked through the woods, examining trees and shrubbery as we walked. We went off the trail and examined a riverbed and its layering of soils. With a Munsell Soil Color book, classifying the the color of the soils of the riverbed. On the way back we stopped by the Great Temple Mound and went inside and listened to the history lesson. Once we exited, our weekly lab task was given to us. We are to dig deeper into the background of the historical land we were on. Below is the outside view of the Great Temple Mound, where ceremonial meetings were held.

Great Temple Mound

This national park has evidence of 17000 years of continuous human habitation. This site was occupied during the Paleoindian, Archaic and Woodland phases. It once was home to the South Appalachian Mississippians, a group of Native Americans, in which they prospered. This land is located on the Macon Plateau at the Fall Line where the United States built Fort Benjamin Hawkins in 1806. This place was a site of trade and prospered due to its location. During the decline of the Mississippian culture, a group of people, named the Lamar, inhibited and thrived in the area. Structural sites and artifacts are found from this Lamar phase. During the year of 1540, Hernando de Soto's expedition led him through the area. While searching for precious metals his army wiped out most of the Native Americans and who survived had to combat Eurasian diseases believed to be brought by the pigs de Soto and his men brought with them. In the late 18th century, the Muscogee Indians inhabited the area. This was the last time of real independence for the Native American culture in this area. Many battles were fought for this territory that was eventually seized by the United States. 

Lamar Mound

**Images Courtesy of Google Images

**Information Courtesy of Wikipedia.org