Etowah Indian Mountain State Historic Site was once home to several thousand Native Americans between 1000 AD to 1550 AD. Today, the site resides in Cartersville, Georgia on 54 –acres of land and still houses six earthen mounds, a plaza, a village area, borrow pits and defensive ditch. It is truly a treasure not only for Georgia, but also for our nation, shedding light on this ancient culture.
Currently, visitors can explore the site’s museum, which shows how natives to this political and religious center decorated themselves with shell beads, paint, complicated hairdos, feathers and copper ear ornaments. Hand-carved stone effigies weighing 125 pounds still bear some original pigments. Objects made of wood, seashells and stone are also displayed.
With the wealth of information and ancient history housed at this site, it may not surprise you that Etowah Mounds is the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast. Sites staff and local Friends volunteers are hard at work preserving this history.
Various events and programs are hosted throughout the year to encourage visitation and education. One such program is the candlelight tours (see photo above). Seeing the mounds at night bring a whole new experience of the site. Other programs include hayrides with storytelling, ancient tools and weapons demonstrations, and an artifacts day. For a complete listing of events, visit gastateparks.org/EtowahMounds or ask about the next volunteer event or program during your visit! Your help with programs, donations, as well as your patronage helps to ensure this national treasure will be preserved for generations to come.