Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Alabama's First Peoples / Creek Country

Alabama's First Peoples Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021

1. Alabama's First Peoples Marker

Inscription.

Alabama's First Peoples, also, Creek Country. . Alabama's First Peoples. Humans arrived in what is now Alabama near the end of the last Ice Age. Waves of people migrated through the area for centuries before some of them established settlements. Over time, their culture advanced through the development of agriculture and trade., By around 1000 AD, improvements in agriculture supported a sophisticated society spread across much of eastern North America. Artisans created pottery and tools that were functional as well as beautiful, often inspired by nature or their interpretation of the cosmos. Seasonal and harvest celebrations created a rich ceremonial life. , At Moundville, near Tuscaloosa, they built the second-largest mound city in North America. It held influence over towns and villages for hundreds of miles in every direction. By the mid-1500s, war and disease introduced by Europeans devastated the native population., On a busy summer day in Moundville, ca. 1200, women worked in the cornfields, men returned from a hunt, and travelers arrived with tribute and trade items. , Creek Country. Descendants of the mound builders formed community networks that the Europeans would call “tribes.” The most prominent of these in Alabama were the Creeks, a confederation of many towns and families with similar language and traditions. Throughout the 1700s, the Creeks had a vibrant trade with Europeans, exchanging deerskins for manufactured goods. , In the Creeks' matrilineal society, clan affiliation passed through the mother's line. The bicultural children of Creek women and white men were considered fully Creek by their Indian families. They served as mediators between Creek and white society during a time of rapid cultural and economic change., As the deerskin trade declined, some Creeks established cattle ranches and cotton plantations. Departure from the tradition of communal land ownership created division in Creek society. , "The Lands are not the Property of the Head Warriors, but of the whole Nation in common." Emisteseguo, chief of Little Tallassee, to British Officials, 1771

Alabama's First Peoples Humans arrived in what is now Alabama near the end of the last Ice Age. Waves of people migrated through the area for centuries before some of them established settlements. Over time, their culture advanced through the development of agriculture and trade.

By around 1000 AD, improvements in agriculture supported a sophisticated society spread across much of eastern North America. Artisans created pottery and tools that were functional as well as beautiful, often inspired by nature or their interpretation of the cosmos. Seasonal and harvest celebrations created a rich ceremonial life.

At Moundville, near Tuscaloosa, they built the second-largest mound city in North America. It held influence over towns and villages for hundreds of miles in every direction. By the mid-1500s, war and disease introduced by Europeans devastated the native population.

On a busy summer day in Moundville, ca. 1200, women worked in the cornfields, men returned from a hunt, and travelers arrived with tribute and trade items.

Creek Country Descendants of the mound builders formed community networks that the Europeans would call “tribes.” The most prominent of these in Alabama were the Creeks, a confederation of many towns

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and families with similar language and traditions. Throughout the 1700s, the Creeks had a vibrant trade with Europeans, exchanging deerskins for manufactured goods.

In the Creeks' matrilineal society, clan affiliation passed through the mother's line. The bicultural children of Creek women and white men were considered fully Creek by their Indian families. They served as mediators between Creek and white society during a time of rapid cultural and economic change.

As the deerskin trade declined, some Creeks established cattle ranches and cotton plantations. Departure from the tradition of communal land ownership created division in Creek society.

"The Lands are not the Property of the Head Warriors, but of the whole Nation in common."
Emisteseguo, chief of Little Tallassee, to British Officials, 1771

Erected 2019 by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 22.703′ N, 86° 18.096′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Bainbridge Street and Dexter Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Located

Creek Country Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021

2. Creek Country Marker

in Alabama Bicentennial Park in front of the Lurleen B. Wallace Office Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Dexter Ave, Montgomery AL 36130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Resistance and War / Alabama Fever (a few steps from this marker); Alabama Bicentennial Park / Ancient Sea (a few steps from this marker); Alabama Territory / Path to Statehood (a few steps from this marker); Cotton State / Slavery (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Secession & Confederacy / Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); Emancipation / Reconstruction (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington Elm Tree (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

Marker is the second from the right of photo front. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021

3. Marker is the second from the right of photo front.

Alabama's First Peoples / Creek Country Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021

4. Alabama's First Peoples / Creek Country Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.