Wilbanks Site facts for kids
| Location | Cartersville, Georgia, Cherokee County, Georgia,  USA |
|---|---|
| Region | Cherokee County, Georgia |
| History | |
| Periods | Late Mississippian period |
| Cultures | Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1948 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mound |
The Wilbanks Site (also known as 9CK5) is an important Native American archaeological site. It dates back to the Mississippian culture's Late period. This site is located in Cherokee County, Georgia, in the United States.
The Wilbanks Site was once found between the towns of Cartersville, Georgia and Canton, Georgia. It was on the south bank of the Etowah River. Today, the site is underwater. It lies beneath Lake Allatoona, covered by about 80 to 90 feet of water.
Exploring the Wilbanks Site
Archaeologists dug at the Wilbanks Site in November and December of 1948. They had to work quickly because the area was about to be flooded. This flooding was for the creation of a new reservoir, Lake Allatoona.
The University of Georgia's Department of Anthropology led the dig. William H. Sears was in charge of the excavation. He wrote a report about what they found. This work was part of a larger project to study river basins.
What Did They Find?
Sears's study showed that the Wilbanks Site was once a large village. At its busiest time, the village covered about eighty acres. That's like 60 football fields!
The most important feature of the site was a big mound. This mound was about 220 feet across and six feet tall. It was very close to the riverbank. Archaeologists focused on this mound during their dig.
They hoped to find special artifacts similar to those found at the famous Etowah Indian Mounds. While they didn't find exactly what they expected, the dig was still very useful. It helped scientists learn more about the pottery styles of the Southeast. It also gave clues about the ceremonial buildings of the Etowah culture.
Archaeologists also dug up several middens nearby. A midden is like an ancient trash heap. It contains discarded items that tell us a lot about daily life.
Who Lived There?
William Sears noticed that three different groups of people lived at the Wilbanks Site over time. The earliest and most dominant group was the Etowah culture. The other two groups were the Wilbanks culture and the Lamar culture.
These different groups were identified by their unique pottery styles. Even though they were distinct, all three cultures lived during the "Late Mississippian" period. The Wilbanks Site is so important that it's known as the "type-site" for the Wilbanks cultural period. This means it's the main place where this culture was first identified and studied.
