Lamar Mounds and Village Site, Archaeological settlement from Mississippian period in Macon, Georgia.
Lamar Mounds and Village Site is an archaeological complex along the Ocmulgee River featuring two earthen mounds, with one displaying a distinctive spiral ramp ascending to its summit. The layout includes remains of former residential areas, storage structures, and other physical traces from the Mississippian period settlement.
This was a major settlement established around the 14th century that Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto encountered during his 1540 journey through the region. The meeting between de Soto and the people living here represents one of the few recorded contacts between Europeans and this area.
Native American communities at this location relied on farming in the rich bottomlands of the Ocmulgee River valley, cultivating crops that sustained their way of life. The settlement pattern shows how people adapted their living arrangements to the seasonal rhythms of the river and its agricultural potential.
Reaching this site requires a round trip hike of about 4 miles through swampy terrain with uneven ground. Sturdy shoes and insect protection are essential, and visitors should prepare for wet conditions.
The spiral mound here represents the only known example of this construction method in North America, making it distinctive among similar sites. This unusual building technique demonstrates innovative thinking by those who designed and built it.
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