Another local historic site of interest: the Etowah Mounds. Throughout the southeast, from approximately AD 1000 to AD 1500, there flourished a culture designated “Mississippian,” which was based on corn cultivation and which featured the construction of ceremonial mounds. The largest of these is found at Cahokia outside St. Louis; the second largest is right here in Cartersville, along the Etowah River. There are three large mounds and a few smaller ones; the entire site is surrounded by a moat. Inside the visitor center are some artifacts, including two kneeling marble figures unearthed at the site and not sold by the farmer who once owned the place (and who actually grew corn atop Mound A).

The video, unfortunately, invites viewers to visit the “Bennett History Museum” at “Reinhardt College.” (That would be the Funk Heritage Center, at Reinhardt University.) But there is never any money to fix these things.

Alas, Mississippian culture wasn’t all that stable and, it is judged, was a victim of the diseases brought by De Soto and others. The later Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, etc. tribes that the English encountered were descendants of Mississippians.

As it happens we also saw Kolomoki Mounds in Blakely, Georgia this summer, although these ones were from the earlier Woodland Period (AD 350-750).