In a former life I made my living as an archaeological geologist, and spent my working hours digging for signs of earlier occupation on land about to be transformed in some dramatic way. So when Bob Angel of the Mobile Studio Travels of the Carolina Considered Project announced that he was heading off on a tour of American Indian mound sites, I was eager to follow his progress.

Earthen mounds of prehistoric origin are found in a variety of regions throughout the world, and were constructed for burials, residential use, and for ceremonies. Some are subtle and basic, while others are large and impressive even today, several millennia after they were built. And they’ve captured Bob’s imagination. Who could fail to be intrigued by the mystery of these mounds? Who built them? Why? And whose interest isn’t piqued by exhibits like the “arrowheads,” on display at the Fort Walton Beach Mound Museum? Here’s a screenshot of Bob’s photo of the display:

 
An archaeologist would call them “points” and not “arrowheads,” but they’re evocative whatever you call them. Who made them? What animals were hunted with them? Or were they used for defensive or offensive purposes?

Points aren’t the only relics of the people who built the mounds. There are examples of pottery, sculptures, tools, and more. Interested? Then you’ll want to read about Bob’s discoveries in “The Great Southeast American Indian Mound Tour of 2010.” Start with Part I, and follow the link at the bottom of the article to reach the second in the series, which itself links to the third, and so-on. Enjoy the tour!

 
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