Rock Hawk facts for kids
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound is a cool and mysterious place in Putnam County, Georgia, USA. It's an ancient artwork made from thousands of quartzite rocks. These rocks are carefully placed to form the shape of a giant bird.
Most people call it a hawk, but experts aren't completely sure what kind of bird the ancient builders wanted to show. It's one of only two large stone bird shapes found east of the Mississippi River. The other one, called Rock Eagle, is also in Putnam County, about 13 miles away.
Rock Hawk isn't as well-preserved as Rock Eagle. You need to use your imagination a bit to see the bird shape clearly. Scientists are still trying to figure out why Rock Hawk looks different from its "sister" site.
What is Rock Hawk?
Rock Hawk is an amazing example of an effigy mound. An effigy mound is a shape built on the ground, often by piling up earth or, in this case, rocks. It's like a giant drawing on the landscape.
- It's made from thousands of pieces of white quartzite.
- The rocks are arranged to look like a large bird.
- It's a very old and important archaeological site.
Who Built It and When?
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, believe the Rock Hawk mound was built a very long time ago. They think it was made between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago.
- It was built by Woodland Indians.
- These Native Americans lived in the area during the Woodland period.
- They might have been part of groups like the Adena or Hopewell.
- However, it's more likely they were a unique group of people from that time.
Visiting Rock Hawk
The Rock Hawk site is protected to keep it safe for the future. A tall fence surrounds the mound to prevent people from walking on it.
- The Georgia Power company helps manage the area.
- They have a parking area that's easy to get to.
- There are also hiking trails and other fun things to do nearby.
- You can visit the mound for free.
The site is located on Wallace Dam Road, off State Route 16. It's a few miles east of Eatonton. It's also close to the shores of Lake Oconee, which is a lake made by people.
Images for kids
- Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
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Rock Hawk effigy mound from above
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Another view of the mound's shape
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A closer look at the 'head' part of the effigy
