Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site (NC)
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Not a lot of thought went into the design of the visitor center at Town Creek...
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...
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...
Exiting the back of the visitor center a short trail leads through a field of tall grass to the mound site...
Approaching the 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...
Heading through the reconstructed north gate...
First views of the site as we pass through the north gate...
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...
The Burial Hut with the Temple Mound beyond...
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...
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...
A long sloping eastward facing ramp provides access from the plaza area below...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Looking down at the burial hut and north gate from atop the temple mound...
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...
A look inside the more simply constructed minor temple, note the open walls...
Along the eastern palisade next to the 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...
kw
on March 2, 2014forgot to rate --- even though there's not a lot of color around at the time of year you went, really like this taste of history through your pics!
kw
on March 2, 2014Interesting! Another little known tidbit in History :) That last path is sooo straight!