On Friday, June 22, I ventured about 25miles northwest of 285. After passing a cow pasture (where several cows were relaxing in the shade) and the often imitated, never duplicated Bow and Arrow Mobile hone park, I arrived to the Etowah Indian Mounds near Cartersville, GA.  After discovering the site was only open from Thursday-Sunday (even in the summer) I was a little apprehensive of making the drive, but when I got to the parking lot and only saw 4 cars I knew why it was only open 4 days a week. 

Greeted by a Santa-like park official, I paid my $5.35, got a brief orientation, and was soon on my way to learn about those big indian mounds and the indigenous people who constructed them.

Guess what happened to these Native Americans after 1500???

Hernando DeSoto and 1000 of his men "visited" in August 1540. Not long after, the population drastically declined due to diseases, fleeting and well you know the rest.


Wattle and Daub House

This house was constructed in 2008 using information obtained at the site. Wattle refers to the wooden posts and green cane used to construct base and Daub refers to the red clay and grass used to help support and insulate the structure.



On the way to Mound A.



This pic gives you the jest of the site. Its a grassy field surrounded by woods and a river. Wattle and Daub houses were thought to have once crouded the field before DeSoto and his men descended of course. The elite lived on this 63 foot high mound.  



Steps to leading to the top of Mound A



Dripping sweat after reaching the top of Mound A.

After 134 steps (it was sooooooo hot I might have become delirious and lost count) in 91 degree weather, I got a birdseye view of the site. You gotta watch your head for bees and watch your feet for ants. Yeah, I may be exagerating about the bees, but one bee is too many for me. Mound B was a temple platform for the "lesser elite". Mound C was used as a burial mound. Climbing those were not in the playbook in that heat.

The pics above are of Mounds C(top) and B. After getting off the mound I headed to the Eowah River to see the V-shaped fish trap. I finally caught a little shade and a cool breeze on the river bank.



Fish Trap.

Last but not least I ventured into the small and dimly lit museum. I was joined by an elderly white couple. The most interesting artifacts in the museum were the two 125lbs statues which were originally constructed without any iron or steel tools. Now how they do that?????

So, would I go again??? Definitely not in this type of heat.  But this would be a good trip on a cool day especially if you want to get you kids out of the house to learn something.