Everyone who’s lived in or visited Georgia understands just what a rich history this state holds. Not only was the state at the forefront of huge political change back in the day, but it also was the 13th and last of the British colonies. But doesn’t that make you wonder just what’s buried underneath all these sidewalks and cement roads? There have been huge archaeological discoveries over time in The Peach State, many of which will surprise you. Take a look at five discoveries that are important in the study of Georgia archaeology:

1. Etowah Indian Mounds, Cartersville, Georgia
Flickr Kevin Trotman
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, 813 Indian Mound Rd SE, Cartersville, GA 30120, USA
Flickr Kevin Trotman
Etowah Indian Mounds are a popular tourist spot in Bartow County, Georgia. Late 20th-century archaeological studies showed that the mounds were built and occupied by prehistoric indigenous people of South Appalachian Mississippian culture, the largest occupation of this culture in the southern United States.
2. Native Americans Drank Something Similar to Coffee
Flickr Forest and Kim Starr
Flickr barrykrzywicki
Archaeologists have been chemically testing Cahokian pottery for evidence of what they were drinking. It turns out, remnants of two chemical compounds of Ilex, a certain type of holly, were found, indicating that there was trade of this caffeinated tea up and down the Gulf Coast, dating back thousands of years.

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3. Quarried Stones in Pine Mountain, Georgia
Tennessee Wanderer / Flickr
In 1950, archaeologist Phillip E. Smith of Peabody Museum of Harvard University, excavated several stone architecture sites in northeast Georgia. According to history books, round stone building ruins and quarried stone were not supposed to be in the Southeast before Columbus. However, they clearly were! This discovery prompted rewrites of history books as to who inhabited this land prior to discovery by Columbus.
4. Ceremonial Sites in Cohutta Mountains
Flickr Thomson20192
Cohutta Mountains, Georgia 30708, USA
Flickr Jess Moore
Recently, archaeologist Julia Sennette discovered a ceremonial site in the Cohutta Mountains that will change the archaeology books. Within the site are several monoliths. At least two have been quarried into geometrical shapes. This is proof that these mountains were inhabited by a culture previously unknown in the area.
5. Archaeological Dig in Camp Lawton Reveals Secret Life of Camp Imprisonment
Magnolia Springs State Park Lake, Georgia 30442, USA
Flickr J Stephen Conn
Flickr Ben Salter
Georgia Southern University’s archaeology team unearthed some unique, priceless artifacts from the site of the largest prison camp of the Civil War. Dr. Sue Moore, President of the Society for Georgia Archaeology said they thought anything of historical value at the site of Camp Lawton had been lost, looted or destroyed. However, the discovery of certain artifacts contirbute to unlocking many of the secrets of life in a prison camp in Georgia.

Do you know of any unusual archaeological discoveries in The Peach State? We’d love to hear from you!

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History in Georgia

Katie Feldkamp | December 17, 2022

Where are some historical places in Georgia?

There’s a lot of history in Georgia! From buried treasure to civil war battlegrounds, check out these interesting historical places in Georgia:

  • For over 200 years, Blackbeard Island has been rumored to have hidden treasure.
  • The city of Fayetteville dates back to the 1820s and is filled with historical landmarks.
  • How many spirits are likely to haunt Georgia’s oldest hospital, Old Candler Hospital, in Savannah?
  • Kehoe House in Savannah is both a hotel and a place of haunted history.
  • There are several Civil War sites you can visit throughout Georgia that give a glimpse into the time of war.

 

What are some facts about Georgia?

You can brush up on your Georgia trivia with some of the following facts. How many did you already know?

  • Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.
  • Coca-Cola was invested in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Georgia is named after King George II from England.
  • Georgia has had five state capitals.
  • The marble from Georgia was used to make the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
  • You could fit the size of Georgia into the size of Alaska 11 times.
  • Before becoming president, Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer and was born in Plains, Georgia.
  • Much of Alabama and Mississippi were part of Georgia when originally founded in 1772.

 

Are there any hiking trails in Georgia tied to history?

You can enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors and take in a piece of history when you walk along several trails in Georgia, such as:

  • Sope Creek Trail, which has ties to the Civil War.
  • Doll’s Head Trail has pieces of reclaimed art.
  • Blood Mountain Loop Trail is part of the Appalachian Trail.
  • Wormsloe Plantation was used to protect Savannah from the Spanish invasion.
  • Sunset Rock on Lookout Mountain dates back to Georgia’s Cherokee people.

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