One Of Georgia’s Largest Archaeological Sites Is Hiding At The Bottom Of A Lake

It's utterly tragic how many amazing archaeological sites have been lost to construction projects over the years. Even just here in Georgia, we have Native American mounds that have been destroyed for roadfill (the Leake Mounds in Cartersville) and a city that was sunk for the creation of Lake Lanier. But there's another lost archaeological site in Georgia that many people don't know about: the Burnt Village, which is now buried under West Point Lake in Troup County. This is such a tragic bit of history. Check it out:

We have a number of intact archaeological sites in Georgia, like the mighty Etowah Mounds. These were built by the Mississippian tribe and are located in present-day Cartersville.

Down in Troup County, you'll find West Point Lake. This is a huge body of water spanning nearly 26,000 acres. It's 85 feet deep at its deepest, and is a major source of power for the surrounding area. It's also a popular recreation site.

Not many people know that underneath West Point Lake lies a town that had been settled by the Creek tribe, also known as the Muskogee tribe. When standing, the city was known as Okfuskenena and served as an important trading post.

The town gained its nickname of the Burnt Village when it was attacked by a group of settlers in 1793. The European settlers were attempting to chase the Muskogee tribe out of Georgia. There were many casualties, and the entire village was destroyed.

Throughout the late 1960s, a group of archaeologists from the Smithsonian Institute excavated the site where the Burnt Village had been. Many artifacts and evidence of a thriving civilization there were found.

Sadly, in 1971, the area was flooded for the creation of the West Point Lake. The remnants of Okfuskenena now lie at the bottom of this lake.

Were you familiar with the story of Okfuskenena? Do you know of any other underwater cities in Georgia? Share your thoughts in the comments!