Leake Mounds
Leake Site (9BR2) · Etowah River Leake Complex
Middle Woodland to Early Mississippian (Swift Creek–Cartersville)·Woodland (Swift Creek) / Early Mississippian·🇺🇸 Georgia, Bartow County, United States
About
About Leake Mounds
Rare Early Mississippian–Late Woodland circular ditch-and-mound center (300 BCE–650 CE, Swift Creek–Cartersville) on the Etowah River floodplain 1.5 km west of Cartersville. Three low platform mounds (A 7 m high, 65 m base) arranged around a 4 ha plaza enclosed by a 2 m deep, 6 m wide circular ditch and outer embankment — among Georgia's earliest moated towns. Excavated by Southeastern Archaeological Conference after 1990s highway salvage; produced Swift Creek Complicated Stamped ceramics, mica and copper imports, and wall-trench houses. Interpreted as Woodland-period town with Mississippian reuse.
Why it mattersType site for Swift Creek moated towns; documents Woodland-to-Mississippian continuity and early enclosure engineering.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of circular ditch — defensive vs water management vs ceremonial
- 02Relationship to Etowah Mounds 1.5 km south
Theories
- 01Ditch as moat-palisade hybrid for periodic flooding control
- 02Aggregation point for Swift Creek stamp exchange network
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.300 BCE–650 CE (Swift Creek phase; mound A later c.900–1000 CE)
- Period
- Middle Woodland to Early Mississippian (Swift Creek–Cartersville)
- Culture
- Woodland (Swift Creek) / Early Mississippian
- Builders
- Swift Creek culture
- Purpose
- Circular ditch-enclosed plaza town with platform mounds for aggregation and craft production
- Abandoned
- c.1100 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1940 bridge fill salvage; documented by Patrick Wofford; excavated 1996–1999 GDOT
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.300 BCE–250 CE
Initial Swift Creek occupation and ditch excavation
c.400–650 CE
Platform mound construction and plaza aggregation
c.900–1100 CE
Early Mississippian reuse and abandonment
1996–1999
GDOT salvage excavation and preservation
On the ground
Structures & features
34.1393° N · 84.8461° W · 230 m · 2 mapped features
Mound A (circular enclosure apex)
mound7 m high 65 m base platform mound at north arc of enclosure, summit structure floor
34.1403° N · 84.8451° WCircular ditch and embankment
earthwork6 m wide 2 m deep ditch with outer earthen bank enclosing 4 ha plaza
34.1382° N · 84.8469° W
Gallery