Etowa Indian Mounds In Danger Of Corrosion

By Taqseblue

October 4, 2000

The Etowa Indian Mounds located in Cartersville, Georgia are in danger of corrosion. It seems there is a sod farm located directly across the street from the now famous mounds. Separating this famous historical site and this sod farm is but a small two lane country road. Directly running under this road is a drainage pipe which appears to empty its contents right into what is believed to be a trench or mote that at one time surrounded the mounds. It is believed that this trench ( now parcially gone) was used as a means of protection for the inhabitants of the mounds era. .

The sod farm runs directly up to the edge of this two lane country road. The large spinkler system used to irrogate this land shoots water directly into this trench or mote area as well, as it seems only twenty or so feet of concrete seperate the two propertys. Why such a drainage pipe would even be allowed to run off into the park is beyond question. The park has tryed to form some sort of barrier to stop the flow but a two foot high barrier made of meshed plastic can only do so much. It is obvious to the seeing eye that corrosion is already evident in this trench as well as the now buried stretch of trench that now rests under sod.

Directly adjacent to this sod farm is also an area cemetary. Across the street and adjacent to the mounds is a trailer park and some privately owned property with a house and some other recent structures. It would suffice to say that not enough ground has been alloted to preserve such a piece of history as the Etowa Indian Mounds.

The mounds rest almost directly on the border of the Etowa river, hence "Etowa Mounds". The period of occupation of the mounds is called the "Missippian period" or the "Mounds period". It is believed that the mounds were occupied around A.D. 1000 on upto the 15th century. 52 acres made up the village surrounded by a trench or mote that ran from riverbank to riverbank. Inside the mote were palisade or bastions used to protect the village making it almost invulnerable.

The highest mound is 65 feet with steps leading up to the top, also believed be the residing place of the chief or ruler. One could also watch the sun rise from the east through a sharp notch in the Allatoona range.

A smaller mound was found to be a buriel place for more then 500 society leaders. Dressed in elaborate attire and stretching over 500 years in style, custumes, and practices.

Should a large part of this surrounding trench or mote be allowed to corrode or disipate due to "progress" or what appears to be "carelessness"? While modern society may not find this as too much to cry over, the Indian or Native American people may very well be loosing a part of thier history. So much has been lost to date, should one more fact of our ingenuity and intellligence be lost forever to ignorance and carelessness? Did a savage and untelligant people have the ability to live such organized lives? Not only does it prove our incredible anscestory but these mounds are also sacred buriel grounds as well. Which would rise another question. Should sacred buriel grounds be used as a park?

Jacqueline L Gordon

Swinochip7@aol.com