Kolomoki Mounds State Park
The museum at Kolomoki was built
over an actual archaeological
excavation. Visitors can explore the
interior of one of the mounds.
Mound A at Kolomoki
The temple mound, or Mound A, at
Kolomoki Mounds rises almost 56
feet into the air. The sun rises over
it on the shortest day of the year.
Kolomoki Mounds State Park
Blakely, Georgia
Kolomoki Mounds State Park - Blakely, Georgia
Kolomoki Mounds State Park
The amazing temple mound at Kolomoki Mounds still
retains its original pyramidal shape. It was once the
centerpiece of a Native American city.
South Georgia's Ancient City
One of the most remarkable archaeological
sites in America is tucked away amidst the
peanut fields and pine trees of Southwest
Georgia.

Kolomoki Mounds State Park, just north of
historic Blakely, Georgia, preserves the site
of an amazing Native American culture that
rose to prominence more than 1,500 years
ago and vanished long before the first
European explorers set foot on the Southern
coast. Some of the most amazing mounds in
the nation remain today as reminders of
those who came before us.

A Woodland culture, Kolomoki was settled
long before the people of the Mississippian
era spread east across the South building
mound complexes at locations such as Lake
Jackson, Ocmulgee, Etowah and Emerald
Mound. Its similarity to those sites, however,
caused some researchers to mistake it for a
Mississippian-era site.

Kolomoki, however, was founded hundreds
of years before these well-known mound
centers. It began to grow in around 350 A.D.
in what could best be described as the
"neutral ground" between two populated
regions of the South.

The function of the site was clearly political
and ceremonial. Its builders designed the
original mounds along an axis that pointed to
the rising sun and eventually built the Great
Temple Mound in a position that allowed the
sun to rise from directly behind it on the
shortest day of the year.

As the Kolomoki culture grew, its influence
spread over a vast area of the Southeast.
Archaeologists generally agree that it was
the largest city north of Mexico and that it
assumed vast importance. Smaller mound
groups and village sites producing pottery of
the Kolomoki style have been found across
Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

The people of Kolomoki developed their own
unique style but also were influenced by the
Weeden Island culture. Named for a pottery
style discovered at Weedon Island in Florida,
this Woodland culture was predominate to
the south of Kolomoki.

Archaeologists generally agree that the
Kolomoki Mounds site was the largest city
north of Mexico. In fact, the people of the site
had much in common with the Aztecs that
inhabited Mexico at that time.

There is no evidence of contact between the
two societies, but they were both militaristic
and each expended great labor and expense
to build massive public works.

Like the Aztecs, the people of Kolomoki
exhibited great knowledge of astronomy, had
a highly organized religion and practiced
human sacrifice. Their Great Temple Mound
still retains its remarkable pyramid shape.

The Kolomoki Mounds site thrived for 300 to
400 years. Over that time the people built at
least ten and possibly many more mounds.
Recent archaeological study also suggests
that the complex was surrounded by a wide
earthen enclosure.

The great city eventually peaked and began
to fade away. The reasons for this are not
known today. Archaeologists believe that
Kolomoki was completely abandoned by
around 750 A.D. A couple of families lived at
the site during the later Mississippian era,
but Kolomoki never again served as a city or
ceremonial center.

The site was preserved through the efforts of
the citizens of Early County. They acquired
the lands and donated them to the State of
Georgia during the early 1900s. The mounds
were mapped and major archaeological
work took place in the 1940s and 1950s, but
much of the massive site has not been
excavated.
Kolomoki Mounds State Park now welcomes
visitors from around the world. The sheer
size of the Great Temple Mound is startling to
most. A concrete staircase built during the
1940s leads to the flat top of the mound
where interpretive panels describe the city
below. The view is spectacular.

While the gigantic mound stuns visitors, they
are equally amazed by the chance to see
inside one of the burial mounds. The park's
museum encloses most of Mound E, giving
visitors the unique opportunity to look back
through time to ceremonies that took place
more than 1,500 years ago.

Construction of the mound began following
the death of a powerful chief. Visitors can
look into his tomb and see artifacts still
preserved in the places where they were laid
by the ancient residents of Kolomoki.

Walkways lead through the ancient mound
and an excellent film details current theory on
the history and importance of the site. The
museum also offers displays of pottery and
other artifacts from Kolomoki.

Trails and a park road lead through the
archaeological site. Interpretive signs at key
points provide information on the history and
significance of the mounds and other
features.

In addition to preserving its remarkable
archaeological features, Kolomoki Mounds
State Park offers camping, picnicking, a lake
for fishing and swimming, hiking trails and
more.

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until 10
p.m., while the museum can be visited from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The mounds area is
open from 7 a.m. until dark.

A $5 parking fee is charged to visit the park.
The museum cost is $5 for adults, $4 for
Seniors (62+) and Youth (6-17). Children
under 6 are admitted for $1.

Kolomoki Mounds State Park is located at
205 Indian Mounds Rd., Blakely, Georgia.

Please click here to visit the official website
for more information.
Excavation at Kolomoki
Ancient pottery remains in position
inside the excavated mound now
covered by the park museum. It
was placed there more than 1,000
years ago.
Burial Mound at Kolomoki
The largest burial mound or
Mound D stands opposite the
prehistoric plaza from the Great
Temple Mound.
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Copyright 2011 & 2014 by Dale Cox
All rights reserved.

Last Updated: November 20, 2014
Native American Sites in the South
Picnic by the Lake
Kolomoki Mounds State Park is a
popular recreation spot with lakes,
picnic areas, campgrounds, hiking
trails and more.
Fall Color on Kolomoki Creek
One of the park's nature trails
leads along Kolomoki Creek.
Beautiful year round, the creek
even provides a bit of rare South
Georgia fall color.