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  Pre-Historic Sites
Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon, GA - March 12, 2012
 
I have literally driven by this very historic location dozens of times on my way down and back to Florida over the past 35 years.  It is located just north of north of I-16 before it meets I-75 about four miles to the northwest of the National Monument.  Most interesting besides the mounds and the story of those that lived here in the past was the display of part of a Clovis Point in the museum.

The Museum and entrance to the grounds.

This is the entrance to the earth lodge, which is very unique.

This is the recreated interior of the ceremonial lodge.

Along the edge one can see individual seats that were formed into the floor for the camp elders to sit in.  The red area in front is a recreated fire.

This shows a better view of the seats.

This is were the chief would preside from.

This photo of the main mound was taken from in front of the ceremonial lodge.

This photo shows the many steps needed to reach the top.

From the top of the main mound one can look down on this smaller one.

This is where things got interesting.  It was my impression up to this point that the Clovis culture was only located out west around New Mexico where this type of technology was originally discovered.  In talking with the Ranger I found out this was found during a dig back in the thirties when the WPA was doing the work and the point was found in the remains of a campfire.  Due to the fact that the find was disturbed during the excavation the archeologists in charge could not date the find.

More research on my part has revealed that there are more sites along the eastern seaboard that have revealed Clovis type point technology. Originally the Clovis People were thought to have come to the Americas via Siberia and down the west coast, with persons migrating later to this area in Georgia and other sites along the eastern seaboard.  However, there is now hypotheses put forward by some with supporting evidence that the Clovis Culture actually came from the Iberian Peninsula in what is now Spain some 12,000 years ago and that the Clovis people migrated west, not east.  Archeology is like politics and economics.  Once someone has made up their mind on something, they do not want to change it.  Especially if someone's whole academic reputation rests on what he or she has proposed, believed and propagated over the years.  Needless to say, this new idea is meeting resistance.  This brings to mind the old saying:  "Don't confuse me with the facts!"

For someone with a further interest in this subject I suggest you read:  "Across the Atlantic - The Origin of Americas' Clovis Culture" by Dennis Stanford and Bruce Bradley.

Etowah Mounds, GA   Miamisburg Mound, OH   Oakville Indian Mound, AL   Ocmulgee Mounds, GA