Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Archaeological site and national park in Macon, United States.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is an archaeological site near Macon with seven earthwork mounds built by indigenous peoples along the Ocmulgee River. The grounds span thousands of acres of forest and wetlands, with pathways connecting the ancient structures and a visitor center housing artifacts from the site.
The mounds were built roughly 1000 years ago during the Mississippian period, representing a time of advanced settlement planning. The site itself shows evidence of human presence spanning thousands of years before that, including later periods when Creek Nation peoples inhabited the area.
The name Ocmulgee comes from the Mikasuki Oki Molki, meaning 'Bubbling Water'. The reconstructed earth lodge near the visitor center reproduces a structure carbon-dated to 1050 CE, with a raised-earth platform shaped like an eagle with a forked-eye motif and molded seats for leaders. The eagle was a symbol of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex.
A visitor center offers exhibits with artifacts from the site, and several trails of varying difficulty connect the mounds through the grounds. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, especially during warmer months, as there is limited shade along some paths.
Magnetometer scans of the Great Temple Mound revealed a spiraling staircase inside it, oriented toward the Ocmulgee River floodplain. No other Mississippian site has a staircase of this form. The mound rises 55 feet (17 m) and was built by workers carrying earth by hand in bags.
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