Park Mound facts for kids
| Location | Troup County, Georgia,  USA |
|---|---|
| Region | Troup County, Georgia |
| History | |
| Cultures | South Appalachian Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1969-1973 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mound |
The Park Mound Site (also known as 9TP41) was an important archaeological site in Troup County, Georgia, USA. It was located near Yellow Jacket Creek. Sadly, this site no longer exists today.
Archaeologists, led by Harold Huscher and students from the University of Georgia, studied the site in the early 1970s. They learned a lot about the people who lived there long ago.
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What is the Park Mound Site?
The Park Mound Site was once home to people from the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. This was a group of Native Americans who lived in the southeastern United States. They built large earth mounds for different purposes.
The site had a special type of mound called a platform mound. This was a flat-topped mound, like a big, raised platform. It measured about 170 feet (52 meters) long and 120 feet (37 meters) wide. It stood about 13 feet (4 meters) high.
Where was the site located?
The Park Mound Site was in a flat area next to a river, called a flood plain. It was right where Yellow Jacket Creek met the Chattahoochee River. This location was likely chosen because it was close to water and fertile land.
Around the mound, there were signs of a village. These signs were found mostly on the northern and northeastern sides of the mound. This suggests that people lived in those areas.
What did archaeologists find?
Archaeologists started working at the site in 1969. Their first job was to clear away plants to get ready for digging. In 1973, they received money from the Callaway Foundation to continue their important work.
During their digs in 1972, they found many pieces of pottery. This pottery belonged to a style called the Bull Creek complex. They also found a few stone tools from an even older time, called the Archaic period. These tools showed that people had briefly lived there much earlier.
After the digging was finished, experts like David J. Hally and Leila Oertal from the University of Georgia studied all the findings. They wrote reports about what they discovered.
Why was the site destroyed?
The Park Mound Site was destroyed in 1975. This happened when the West Point Lake reservoir was completed. A reservoir is a large artificial lake built to store water. Building the reservoir meant the area where the mound was located became covered by water.
Today, Yellow Jacket Creek is a park area. It is used for fun activities near the West Point Lake reservoir.
