Ocmulgee Mounds National Park

Earlier this month, as the impeding pandemic was just looming on the horizon in the US, my husband and I were traveling through Georgia. We stopped in Macon for an overnight stay, intending to continue on to Florida the next day. Ultimately we made the decision to turn around and return home the next day as news of the coronavirus’s spread intensified.

We were however, fortunate enough to visit the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park before heading home. Fittingly, it is a testament to the resilience of humanity, as the park is home to a pre-historic American Indian site. Occupied by many different cultures for thousands of years, the Mounds were constructed around 900 CE, during the Mississippian era for tribal elites.

Normally I would edit down the large amount of photos I take during a visit to a park or event, but since many of us are stuck inside and unable to travel, I decided to include more then usual, to create a virtual tour of sorts.

Interior of Earth Lodge. The floor has been carbon dated to the year 1015.

Earth lodges were built to conduct religious and political ceremonies.

Corn Mound. A wooden structure was most likely built on top for ceremonies.

Bridge crossing over railroad tracks. The tracks were laid in the 1800s, and damage was done to some of the older mounds in the process.

Great Temple Mound. Scans show a large spiral staircase inside.

Great Temple Mound. It is believed it was constructed by workers carrying bags of earth.

Great Temple Mound. A wooden structure was also probably built on top for ceremonial purposes.

Lesser Mound viewed from the top of the Great Temple Mound

6 Comments

Jan Reilly says
- March 27, 2020
AWESOME!!!

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- L. Stevens says
  - March 27, 2020
  Thank you! It was definitely a special experience.
  
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K.M. Allan says
- March 27, 2020
Beautiful pictures, as always 😊.

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- L. Stevens says
  - March 27, 2020
  Thank you!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
Rebecca Moon Ruark says
- March 29, 2020
Very cool! Thank you for the photo tour. I’ve written about this park (for the National Park Conservation Assoc.) and interviewed some of the local players involved in it’s getting its designation as a NP. It’s hard to picture what’s so special about what just looks like little hills–but your photos and description really helped.

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