Etowah Mound C Burial 57
Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)·Woodland–Mississippian·🇺🇸 Georgia, Cartersville, United States
About
About Etowah Mound C Burial 57
Etowah Mound C Burial 57 in Georgia, Cartersville, United States is a Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE) earthwork attributed to Woodland–Mississippian. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal earthwork 350 m long and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 34.1250N -84.8060E controls access to Georgia resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey earthwork for Georgia, Cartersville, illustrating Woodland–Mississippian construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
- Period
- Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)
- Culture
- Woodland–Mississippian
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork centre for gathering and burial
- Rediscovered
- 1963 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
Initial construction of Etowah Mound C Burial 57 main structure
c. 1903
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1963–2008
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Etowah Mound C Burial 57) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
34.1250° N · 84.8060° W · 101 m · 3 mapped features
Etowah Mound C Burial 57 — Main Structure
structurePrincipal earthwork — Earthwork 350 m long with diagnostic masonry/panel
34.1258° N · 84.8051° WEtowah Mound C Burial 57 — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
34.1240° N · 84.8067° WEtowah Mound C Burial 57 — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
34.1265° N · 84.8048° W