Click here to learn about the Etowah Mounds. Click on each of the 6 locations on the map and read through the information.

Question

Watch the Etowah Mounds video.

After you have read through the information on the Etowah Mounds map and watched the video, answer the questions below using detailed, complete sentences (remember, ALL work should be in your own words).

Question 1
Why do you think Georgia’s Native Americans built the Etowah Mounds? What were they used for? (3 points)
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Question 2
What do the Etowah Mounds tell us about prehistoric societies in Georgia (think about tools, resources, culture, etc.)?(3 points)
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Question 3
Why do you think the Etowah Mounds are no longer actively being used by Georgia’s Native Americans? (3 points)
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Question 4
What do you think is most impressive about the Etowah Mounds? (3 points)

Answer 1

Question 1
I believe Georgia’s Native Americans built the Etowah Mounds as ceremonial and political centers. These earthen structures likely served various purposes, including serving as platforms for important rituals, burials, and gatherings. The mounds acted as a focal point for the community, symbolizing their societal structure, spiritual beliefs, and cultural identity. Additionally, the mounds may have been used to demonstrate the power and influence of the leaders who resided in those societies.

Question 2
The Etowah Mounds provide significant insights into prehistoric societies in Georgia by revealing aspects of their tools, resources, and cultural practices. Archaeological evidence found at these sites indicates that the indigenous people had access to various resources, such as fertile land for agriculture and materials for tool-making. The discovery of pottery, food remains, and artifacts like arrowheads highlights the community's daily life and economic practices. The complexity and size of the mounds indicate that these societies had a structured social hierarchy and engaged in organized labor, suggesting a rich cultural and social life.

Question 3
I think the Etowah Mounds are no longer actively used by Georgia’s Native Americans primarily due to the changes in societal structure and cultural evolution over time. As Native American communities encountered European settlers and their influence, many traditional practices and structures fell out of use or were altered significantly. Additionally, as the population dynamics and lifestyles changed—shifting toward integration with mainstream American culture—the mounds lost their original significance as focal points of community life and spirituality.

Question 4
What I find most impressive about the Etowah Mounds is the scale and engineering skill required to construct such monumental earthworks. The size and precision of the mounds reflect not only the organizational capabilities of the society that built them but also their cultural sophistication and commitment to their beliefs. The fact that these mounds have survived for centuries as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the prehistoric Native American cultures makes them a remarkable achievement in historical and archaeological terms.