What does a Cherokee historic site look like from 1953?
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Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
My Personal ConnectionTo preface my article today, I wanted to first give a little bit of backstory on what makes this site significant to me, outside of its beautiful landscape and vastly important historical significance.
For me and my family, this site has served as the destination of a much needed car ride, a place to walk and clear your head, and year after year, the home of so many holiday festivities. The site is wonderfully maintained, excellently staffed, and inspiringly simple. Whenever I find myself feeling anxious and I just need a quick break from all that is hectic, this site will always be at the top of my list, and since the passing of my father, it's been a place that connects me with him. I walk the site of the mounds and remember the nighttime stories the staff told so many years ago, and I remember the laughter we shared there. I take comfort in knowing that there won't be an obstruction to this site of so many memories, and I will always be a repeat visitor. There isn't a feeling better than waking up early, taking a drive in the cool morning air before the sun comes up, and enjoying the first glimpse of dawn by a river. There are no better mornings for me, and the riverside site of Etowah is exactly what I needed yesterday morning. |
History Of The Site
The Etowah Indian Mounds you can visit today are a modern day mock-up of what was built all the way back in 900 A.D. by the Cherokee tribe, which inhabited vast amounts of land across the south eastern United States. The site at Etowah served as a home and prosperous city to the tribe, and at its peak, the mound city was called home by several thousand Cherokee. Although only 9% of the site has been excavated and analyzed by archaeologists, there is strong evidence that the Cherokee in this region conducted long-distance trade, practiced complex religious traditions and ceremonies, engaged in warfare with neighboring tribes, and mastered advanced agriculture in the region.
From further examination of the site, there is evidence of permanent structures, a v-shaped fish trap, six earthen mounds, distinctive structures for chiefs, priests, and religious centers, as well as defensive ditches. The vast array of artifacts here tells us of the shell beads they wore, ceremonial burials they conducted, and art they preserved in their nobility's tombs. (Include land transfer, preservation, forming of historic site, museum, cultural importance, and interaction with foreign populations)
From further examination of the site, there is evidence of permanent structures, a v-shaped fish trap, six earthen mounds, distinctive structures for chiefs, priests, and religious centers, as well as defensive ditches. The vast array of artifacts here tells us of the shell beads they wore, ceremonial burials they conducted, and art they preserved in their nobility's tombs. (Include land transfer, preservation, forming of historic site, museum, cultural importance, and interaction with foreign populations)