Town Creek Indian Mound, NC (1-4-14)
Read MoreTown Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Visitor Center
Not a lot of thought went into the design of the visitor center at Town Creek...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Visitor Center
Inside the visitor center there were a few simple displays explaining the progression of ancient Indian cultures in the area as well as the discovery, excavation, and preservation of the Town Creek site...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Visitor Center
A photo displaying what was found inside the mounds during the excavation phase of the sites. Numerous graves are scattered throughout one of the mounds...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Exiting the back of the visitor center a short trail leads through a field of tall grass to the mound site...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
North Gate
Archaeological excavations have discovered the existence of two gates, one on the north and one on the south, as well as the remains of a palisade wall surrounding the site...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
North Gate
Heading through the reconstructed north gate...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
First views of the site as we pass through the north gate...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
The interior of the Town Creek Ceremonial Center as seen from the north gate. Though quite open now the center originally had at over 15 structures of various sizes within its walls...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
The Burial Hut with the Temple Mound beyond...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Burial Hut
The original building was erected on this spot over 600 years ago. These huts provided a place for members of the tribal community to ceremonially bury their dead. Numerous such structures were likely located at Town Creek, possibly one for each tribal clan...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Temple Mound
The centerpiece of the Town Creek Ceremonial Center was the Temple Mound which rises above the surrounding grounds. It was here that spiritual and political leaders of the ancient Pee Dee Tribe would gather for numerous ceremonies and rituals. The mound itself is around 1,000 years old and survived remarkably intact despite years of farming in the area. The temple structure atop it is, of course, a reconstruction...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Temple Mound
A long sloping eastward facing ramp provides access from the plaza area below...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Temple Mound
A look at the interior of the mound where numerous religious, medical, and other cultural ceremonies would have taken place. Simple wooden benches surround a central fire pit while simple painted murals decorate the walls...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Temple Mound
A small open roof allows for ventilation. The simple but at the same time complex craftsmanship of the roof construction can be seen here. The poles give support while a double layer of river cane and straw provide weatherproofing...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Temple Mound
Looking out over the main plaza of the ceremonial center from atop the temple mound. The burial hut and north gate are to the left with the minor temple and south gate to the center and right...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
The south end of the plaza with the stockaded minor temple across the way. The tall wooden pole was thought to be used for ball games...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Looking down at the burial hut and north gate from atop the temple mound...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Minor Temple
Along the eastern wall is what is called the 'minor temple' which sports its own protective stockade. I failed to note the significance between this minor temple and the main temple on the mound but the fact that Town Creek housed numerous such structures no doubt denotes it as a very important place for the ancient Pee Dee's...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Minor Temple
A look inside the more simply constructed minor temple, note the open walls...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Minor Temple
Along the eastern palisade next to the minor temple...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Minor Temple
Whatever the purpose of the minor temple, those who used it must have required a certain amount of privacy due to its own private stockade...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Looking across the Town Creek Ceremonial Center from the south end of the plaza. The Temple Mound rises to the left, the game pole stands in the center, the burial hut is in the distance, with the minor temple stockade just visible to the right...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
South Gate
The southern wall of the palisade has not been covered in mortar allowing you to see its simple yet effective construction. Archaeologists have found the remains of at least five different walls on the site...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Exiting the south gate we decided to follow the nature trail back to the visitor center...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
A short distance down the trail is this large opening which I'm guessing is a convenient place for interpretive demonstrations at different times of the year...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Looking down at the lazy, muddy Little River along which the Town Creek site is located...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Entering a forest of tall pines...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
Passing an easy tree to identify due to its stubborn refusal to let go of its leaves in winter...a young Beech...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
The trail is quite UN-stimulating all though there are a few signs that help with tree identification like this...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound
The wide straight path leads through the tall, neatly planted pine forest back to the visitor center. Despite the cold, dreary weather I think we all were able to appreciate what a unique piece of North Carolina history we had just experienced and enjoyed the visit none-the-less...
historic siteCharlotteAlbemarlePee DeemoundtempleNative AmericanMississippian CulturearchaeologyNational Historic LandmarkIndian Mound