Lost Worlds: Georgia| Part 6: Ocmulgee Indian Mounds

http://LostWorlds.org/ocmulgee_mounds/ In America's deep South, in the shadow of the modern metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia lies the remnants of Native American civilizations thousands of years old. From great walled cities that predate the pyramids in Egypt to Georgia's own pyramid-building culture that existed when Europeans first arrived, "Lost Worlds: Georgia" proves that the New World was really an Old World. Forget teepees and dream catchers. Georgia's Indians carved marble statues and housed them in temples built atop multi-story earthen pyramids. "Lost Worlds: Georgia" hopes to dispel many of the outdated stereotypes forged by Hollywood of Native Americans. This groundbreaking documentary takes the viewer back through 4,000 years of Georgia's prehistory on a tour through the state's most important Native American archaeological sites. Part historical documentary and part travelogue, this tour includes never-before-seen footage of several unique sites. This video excerpt features one such site: Ocmulgee Mounds. Located an hour south of Atlanta, this site features an earthen pyramid over eight stories tall! Watch the video to learn more about this impressive site. To learn more about Georgia's ancient Native American civilizations visit: http://lostworlds.org/category/ancient-civilizations-of-georgia/

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• native
• american
• indian
• pyramid
• archaeology
• archeology
• History
• Documentary

[ANTHROGUY2004]

Thanks for the response! Still, I think it's a lot to hang on a single creation myth, when so much about the culture and archaeology of the Southeastern Indians either does not support a migration from Mexico or outright contradicts it. For example, if the Creek had migrated from Mexico (around AD 1000, as you seem to suggest), you would expect them to speak a Uto-Aztecan or some related language, but they don't. Language changes VERY slowly and so it can be used to verify such migrations.

[LostWorldsTV]

The Muskogean language is part of the Hokan family. This language family has been shown to have its origins in Mexico and Central America. At least two languages in this family (Chontal and Yuman) are still spoken in western Mexico today. This is why I think the Muskogeans have an origin in western Mexico.

I don't think every Mississippian group came from Mexico. But the four tribes mentioned in the creek migration legend do seem to have a Mexican origin.

[ANTHROGUY2004]

Generally a very good video, but Mississippian archaeologists LONG ago abandoned the idea (if, indeed, they ever held it) that Mississippians were migrants from Mexico. If anything, the evidence suggests that they were migrating down from the Midwest and American Bottom region. Mississippian culture was a development indigenous to the Southeast.

[LostWorldsTV]

The Creek Migration Legend, recorded in the early 1700s, describes their original homeland as having volcanoes and earthquakes. There are no volcanoes in the Midwest or American Bottoms region. Nor can the migration legend be easily discounted as fanciful mythology since many things referenced in the legend have since been verified by the archaeological record at Ocmulgee Mounds. Read more about these at my website in the Ocmulgee Mounds section of the Ancient Architects of Georgia exhibit.

[aundrae4]

most american never hear of this how come we don't learn this in public schools i lived in atlanta and dallas back in forth not even in georgia public schools they they tell you

[LostWorldsTV]

This is EXACTLY why I produced this video. I grew up in Georgia, went to Georgia public schools and three colleges in Georgia. Not once did I ever learn about these cultures. In fact, it was only after visiting the pyramids in Mexico that I stumbled upon info about America's pyramids while doing some research.

I heavily promoted my DVD to GA educators but only a couple colleges, public libraries and a few public schools in Georgia have purchased it. So I guess the ignorance will continue!

[bacardibreezer7]

Can I just say how cool it is that along with all the crap on YouTube, there's also a lot of educational stuff too.

[otirudam]

@aundrae4 the christian european empire has always been clever to impose itself as the climax of universal humanity. Practically everybody that lives under the western-christian culture demeans local cultures and has been taught and convinced that all that is good comes from Europe. I live in Mexico, and all mexican schooling is geared and encouraged to look upon western-christian-european civilization as the best there is, so local knowledge in discouraged as weak and underdeveloped

[CrazyNative4]

this is cool

[kenyanamerican]

Just visited this national monument last week and it truely is amazing. I even had the pleasure of viewing the only spiral mound in N. America, which is only acessible twice a year via a 4 mi hike!

[Papillonmuscogee]

@LostWorldsTV Have you taken into account, Indian Territory, and the state of Oklahoma, in any of your research? As this is where the forced migration, sent many? In Oklahoma history, this is taught in schools. The 5 tribes, came from the east, ...to Oklahoma.

[Papillonmuscogee]

@LostWorldsTV Hmm, well this is very interesting then. I shall correct you, the Indian Removal was no legend. Georgia/Alabama/MS was prime land, and the whites wanted it. How do you account for the Bering Strait theory?

[lukingatyou2]

Typically right too. These natives indigenous are still there thinking they are slaves instead of the real builders. Macon is 75% black and indigenous for a reason! They are the real Mexicans - Olmecs who migrated here. Mooriish. or Black indians built these structures. Most of us were already here and around the world2. We are the real and 1st Natives here in NOrth and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Polynesia, Australia etc. Truly a great period robbed of our history not no more.