The Town Creek Indian Mound Prairie Reconstruction

The Town Creek Indian Mound Prairie Reconstruction. .

"We travell'd this day, about 25 miles, over pleasant savanna ground, high, and dry, having very few trees upon it, and those standing at a great distance." , John Lawson: Surveyor General of North Carolina, January 1701

The Town Creek Indian Mound prairie reconstruction consists of more than three and a hall acres of land. Through the years, this land has seen various use and some of our visitors mnau remember when it was mowed and manicured much like a golf course. While this did provide a nice setting for picnics, Frisbee and the occasional game of "tag " it is not representative of what existed six to tweive hundred years ago, The current use of this land is more appropriate and allows us to encourage native plants as we work to exclude non-native exotic species. Periodic burning and seeding of native grasses allow a glimpse here of what once was a prevalent and bountitul ecosystem in North Carolina., In 1540, early explorers reported "savannas" in the Carolina Piedmont, These praries were larger open expanses of fand than what you see here and probably the result of fires set by American Indians as well as naturally occurring wild fires. In addition, animals such as elk and bison relied on open grazing areas and helped maintain the prairies. The web of streams and rivers present in the region created natural firebreaks and caused Piedmont prairies to be smaller than those of the Midwest. Because prairie in this region requires maintenance to persist, as the American Indian population and herds of grazing animals declined, so did this once valued resource., So please enjoy this opportunity to see a small representation of what was once an important ecosystem in the area. Look for the creatures that call this place home and listen as they scamper away through the grasses as you approach. Take a deep breath and notice the smells of the season. Close your eyes; embrace the warmth of the sun on your face and appreciate songs of birds that the prairie attracts. Imagine living near a Piedmont prairie and eating the fruits, seeds and animals it provides. Now, as you pass through the heart of this ancient landscape, it may transport you back in time and into a representation of the past.