Near Athens in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Copena Mound

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 2, 2020

1. Copena Mound Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This burial mound is one of hundreds constructed during the Middle Woodland period between 100 BC and AD 500 by native people who shared burial practices with other similar cultural groups extending from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to Canada. Here in northern Alabama, archaeologists have named these people and their mounds 'Copena' blending the words copper from eastern Tennessee and Michigan and galena, a lead ore from Missouri. These minerals are common to mounds built here in the Tennessee Valley and indicate a far flung trading network. The people who built such mounds used great care to design these structures and enshrine their ancestors, even the sand and clay used to build them were transported from long distances.

Erected 2016 by Limestone County Historical Society; Alabama Elk River Development Agency; and Athens/Limestone Tourism Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Native Americans.

Location. 34° 46.68′ N, 87° 13.254′

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W. Marker is near Athens, Alabama, in Limestone County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Bay Village Drive and Bay Hill Drive. Marker is located in the Bay Pointe Condominiums parking lot, in front of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6122 Bay Village Dr, Athens AL 35611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lucy's Branch / Legacy of The Little Elk Community (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Hampton (approx. 2.2 miles away); Elk River Shoals (approx. 2.4 miles away); East End High School (approx. 5 miles away); Lauderdale County High School 1912 (approx. 5.2 miles away); Lamb’s Ferry Road (approx. 5.3 miles away); Heritage Park (approx. 5.4 miles away); Rogersville Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 2, 2020

2. Copena Mound Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 597 times since then and 169 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.