Mound C - Ceremonial Mortuary

Mound C - Ceremonial Mortuary. Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site. Much of Etowah's fame derives from impressive Native American art objects recovered from Mound C burials during archaeological excavations. The large quantity of ceremonial goods reveals how village residents participated heavily in the exchange of exotic materials such as Tennessee chert (flint), Gulf Coast shells, and copper from the Great Lakes area. Other burial objects indicate visitation of the site by early European explorers such as Hernando de Soto in A.D. 1540. , , Archaeologists began excavating Mound C as early as 1883. Others completed the work in 1961. The mound you see today is a reconstruction. , , Etowah's residents built Mound C in seven stages from A.D. 1250 to 1375. It grew to a height of 19 feet. Each stage consisted of a layer of fill where its summit, flanks; and bases were used as repositories for graves. Archaeologists found evidence of structures built on the summit of several stages. At times, a palisade surround Mound C, and it once had a ramp projecting from its eastern flank. , , In 1961, archaeologists recorded at least seven buildings dating from A.D. 1000 to 1100 beneath Mound C. Structure 3, shown here, consisted of a prepared clay floor covered with red ochre. This photograph shows the outline of the building represented by post holes and was taken before excavations were completed. It is believed that the large buildings under Mound C served a public function. , , Sidebar: , In 1990, President George W. Bush signed into law the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This act mandated major changes in the treatment and disposition of Native American human remains and certain kinds of artifacts. NAGPRA acknowledges the rights of Native Americans as to how these remains and artifacts are to be studied and stored and requires their return to federally recognized tribes associated with the remains. At Etowah, eight tribal governments are involved in consultation for the repatriation of Etowah’s burials and all associated artifacts. , , Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma. , Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma , Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians , Kialegee Tribal Town of the Creek Indians of Oklahoma , Muskogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma , Poarch Bank of Creek Indians , Thiophlocco Tribal Town of the Creek Indians of Oklahoma , United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians . , (captions) , copper bird hair ornament , , This aerial photograph shows the completed excavation of Mound , , sketch of copper headdress ornament