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Etowah Indian Mounds: Echoes of the Mississippian Culture

Explore ancient Mississippian culture at Etowah Indian Mounds, Georgia's best-preserved Native American mound site, with earthen mounds and museum.

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Explore the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Cartersville, Georgia, an exceptionally preserved vestige of the Mississippian culture. This 54-acre site features six earthen mounds, a plaza, and a museum showcasing artifacts from a civilization that thrived from 1000 to 1550 AD.

A brief summary to Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site

Local tips

  • Start your visit at the visitor center to watch the informative video and view the exhibits before exploring the mounds.
  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking the nature trail and climbing the mounds.
  • Bring a picnic to enjoy at the picnic tables located behind the visitor center.
  • Consider purchasing a Georgia State Parks Historic Site Pass for access to multiple historic sites.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site is located at 813 Indian Mound Rd SE, Cartersville, GA 30120. From I-75, take exit 288 and head west on GA-113. Continue onto Main Street in Cartersville, then turn left onto Church Street. Turn right onto Etowah Drive, which becomes Indian Mounds Road. The site will be on your right. Parking is free.

  • Walking

    If you are staying in downtown Cartersville, reaching the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site via walking isn't recommended due to the distance (approximately 4 miles). However, if you are near the Etowah Riverwalk Park, you can follow Etowah Drive/Indian Mounds Road SE for approximately 3 miles to reach the site. Be aware that there are no sidewalks for the majority of the route. Parking at the Etowah Indian Mounds is free.

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Discover more about Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site

The Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site offers a captivating glimpse into the world of the Mississippian people who inhabited this area from around 1000 to 1550 AD. Located in Cartersville, Georgia, about an hour northwest of Atlanta, the site encompasses 54 acres and features six earthen mounds, a plaza, village site, borrow pits, and a defensive ditch. It stands as the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast. Visitors can explore the museum, which displays artifacts unearthed at the site, including pottery, stone axes, jewelry, and effigies. A film provides context to the history and significance of the mounds. The well-preserved artifacts offer insights into the daily life, religious practices, and social structures of this advanced civilization. Outside the museum, a nature trail winds along the Etowah River, allowing visitors to observe a V-shaped fish trap used by the early inhabitants. The trail also highlights the various ways native trees were used for food and medicine. The most prominent feature is the 63-foot-high Mound A, likely the platform for the priest-chief's home. Excavations of Mound C have revealed elaborate burials of nobility, complete with costumes and essential afterlife items. The site provides a tangible connection to a rich and complex society that predates European contact. While the population declined due to European diseases brought by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540, the legacy of the Etowah people remains etched in the landscape.

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