The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the commencement of a significant repatriation process of Native American artifacts from the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Cartersville. This process, mandated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), involves the return of over 187,000 funeral-related objects and at least 404 sets of Native American remains to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Between 1954 and 1973, state archaeologists excavated parts of the site, including Mound C, the main burial mound. Human remains and hundreds of ancestral Muscogee property items have been displayed in the museum since the early 1960s.
The repatriation process, involving multiple institutions across the country, is expected to take three to five years. The DNR is committed to consulting with tribal partners on reimagining museum displays.
The name Etowah (means tribal town) stands as a testament to the ingenuity and cultural significance of the Etowah Indians. These mounds, primarily built for ceremonial purposes, also served as foundations for important structures. These mounds are the second tallest of the Mississippian mounds globally, reaching a height of approximately 63 feet. They exemplify the architectural prowess of the Etowah Indians and their deep connection with spiritual and societal structures.