Ocmulgee National Monument: Cultural Landscape Report, Ocmulgee National Monument, National Park Service

Wheeler, Beth

This cultural landscape report (CLR) for Ocmulgee National monument located in Macon, Georgia, documents the landscape history and existing conditions of the area known as Ocmulgee Old Fields, a site settled by a succession of prehistoric tribes and excavated by archeologists in the 1930s. The CLR documents the historical development of the landscape, inventories existing conditions, and analyzes historic and existing conditions to evaluate landscape significance and integrity. Treatment recommendations are provided to guide rehabilitation and preservation of the cultural landscape at Ocmulgee. The park is significant for its collection of earthen mounds and archeological sites associated with the Mississippian culture along the Ocmulgee River. Nomadic Paleo-Indians lived at Ocmulgee Old Fields, followed by a succession of prehistoric cultures (10,000 BCE- 1700 AD). There are additional historic resources in the park dating to early European settlement and continuing through modern times. This CLR addresses the significant features of Ocmulgee National Monument and changes to the landscape over time. The prehistoric occupation and early park development cover a period of significance that spans the Pre-Columbian era to the twentieth century. As with most prehistoric settlements, the lack of written documentation results in research primarily from archeological investigations and ethnographic/anthropological studies. Archeology at Ocmulgee revealed prehistoric land use patterns and material culture, but due to the nature of the evidence, information is general. Archeology reports and academic papers were consulted for primary documentation about the prehistory of Ocmulgee, though many field records are lost or incomplete. The 1930s excavations yielded extensive collections of photographs, artifacts, and drawings. The park archives provided historical maps, drawings, plans, and photographs of the New Deal excavations and National Park Service administration. Secondary sources supplied additional information on regional and local history, culture, and geography. Though Superintendent’s Reports date back to the 1940’s, there are few current planning documents for Ocmulgee National Monument. The most recent document, a Resource Management Plan was written in 1992. The most current General Management Plan was approved in 1982. A thorough Administrative History (1986) and Vegetative History (1989) were also vital resources for this CLR.

Ocmulgee National Monument: Cultural Landscape Report, Ocmulgee National Monument, National Park Service

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