Ocmulgee National Monument
The first Europeans set foot in Georgia in 1525. They added their footprints to those of people who have lived along the Ocmulgee River for the past 12,000 years.
In the 1930s, an excavation project uncovered a treasure trove of archaeological proof that people have wandered this part of the continent for millennia. Ocmulgee National Monument traces this timeline and preserves the delicate ecosystem of the region.
At the visitor center, you’ll see 9,000-year-old “Clovis” spear points alongside 2,500-year-old clay pots. Iron bells forged by Spanish colonists sit beside steel knives wielded by Creek Indians.
Buried in layers of sand and silt and clay hardened by the Georgia sun, these artifacts have survived to tell the story of this place and the people who lived here.
Ocmulgee National Monument honors this heritage by protecting the “Fall Line” landscape that has nourished its human, plant, and animal inhabitants through history. The Fall Line refers to the area where two environmental zones—the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain—overlap.
Stroll the boardwalk and see the birds that inhabit the wetlands. Visit the earthen mounds built by Early Mississippian and Lamar Indians. Hike the River Trail through the floodplain or wander along Walnut Creek.
Discover the natural beauty that has drawn people to Ocmulgee since before time began.
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letsgo
November 27, 2011