The decline in the use of the Etowah Mounds by Georgia's Native Americans can be attributed to several factors stemming from colonization and cultural changes. Two examples illustrating this disruption are:
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Colonial Displacement: The arrival of European settlers led to the forced displacement of Native American communities. As colonization spread, indigenous people were often forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, leading to the abandonment of ceremonial sites like the Etowah Mounds. This displacement disrupted not only the physical presence of Native Americans at these sites but also severed their spiritual and cultural connections to their history and traditions.
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Cultural Assimilation and Changes: The introduction of European culture, religion, and governance led to significant changes in the lifestyles and practices of Native Americans. Missionization efforts aimed at converting Indigenous peoples to Christianity often undermined traditional beliefs and rituals associated with the mounds. As Native American groups adapted to the pressures of assimilation, many of their ceremonial practices diminished or transformed, contributing to a decline in the use of sites like the Etowah Mounds for their original purposes.
These examples illustrate how colonization and the resulting societal changes led to the decline of traditional practices surrounding the Etowah Mounds.