Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park
Mound 2, the largest earthwork at the site
Show map of Florida Show map of the United States
Location	Leon County, Florida, USA
Nearest city	Tallahassee, Florida
Coordinates	30°30′00″N 84°18′49″W / 30.50000°N 84.31361°W / 30.50000; -84.31361
Established	May 6, 1971
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park (8LE1) is one of the most important

One of several major mound sites in the

The site itself is oriented on an east–west axis, oriented perpendicular to the north–south axis of the Meginnis Arm, a nearby extension of Lake Jackson. All of the mounds are laid out to reflect this alignment, although it is unclear if this is symbolic or merely the result of the lake arm's orientation.[2]

Phases

During the Lake Jackson I phase the site consisted of small village possibly with the beginnings of Mound 2 started. During the Early Lake Jackson II phase the population and the habitation areas of the site expanded greatly. Many of the areas that would later become mounds were village areas at this time, including the locations of Mounds 3 and 4, as well as areas north of Mounds 2 and 4. Mound 5 was begun and Mound 2 was started during this time. Mounds 3, 4, and 6 were probably not yet started. No evidence exists for occupation in the vicinity of Mound 6. A small area around Mound 5 continued to be occupied during early Lake Jackson II. The areas north of Mound 4 and between Mounds 2 and 4 show evidence of dense occupation during this time. During the Late Lake Jackson II phase, all 7 mounds had been started and most had seen numerous construction episodes. Mound 5 and Mound 6 were possibly finished, and Mounds 2, 3, and 4 were under way but had not had their final stages reached yet. The area to the south and west of Mound 4 and the area between Mounds 2 and 4 continues to be occupied. There is dense occupation north of Mound 2. In the Lake Jackson III phase, the central part of the site is occupied more intensively especially around Mound 2 and spreading north. Mounds 4, 5, and 6 are completed before the beginning of the phase, and Mounds 2 and 3 are finished during the phase. After this point at about 1500, the site is virtually abandoned. There is occasional evidence that the site is still visited in the succeeding Velda phase (1500-1633), but very few artifacts or evidence of habitation from this time period have been found.^[2]

Ceramic chronology

Archaeologists use changes in ceramic styles to determine timelines for sites and entire regions. The ceramics found at Lake Jackson have been reconstructed into the following sequences using these ceramic markers.

^[2]

Mound 2

In the center of the complex is Mound 2, the largest and the best-preserved mound at the site, it measures 36 ft high and 272 ft by 312 ft at the base (11 m × 83 m × 95 m). Like all of the mounds at the site where an original shape can be determined, it is a simple truncated-pyramidal platform mound. Very little excavation has taken place at this mound, so not much is known about the construction sequence or what structures may have been built upon it. There was limited work done on the mound in 1947 by John Griffin, in a salvage cleanup effort of a looters trench. He found a series of fill layers of black muck, various soil types, and caps of red clay, but as the cut was not through the entire mound or located near any structures he could not learn much about its construction sequence or definitive purpose. It was most likely the first mound started at the site, early in Fort Jackson's history. If it is similar to mounds at other sites, then it was the house platform of the ruler of the site, who was also possibly a paramount chief over many other sites.^[2]

Mound 3

Located 50 metres (160 ft) across a plaza to the south of Mound 2 is Mound 3, the third-largest and third-tallest mound at the site. Mound 3 was used as a mortuary mound by its builders.

Postholes found on the mound summit indicated that buildings with encircling palisades were erected on the flat top. The last structure erected on the summit measured 7.3 by 9.3 metres (24 by 31 ft) and was aligned in a north–south axis just like the mound itself. This rectangular structure is unusual for Apalachee architecture, as most of their structures were round in shape. Archaeologists theorize this may be because of outside influences from other Mississippian centers where rectangular structures are common.^[2] The period burning, new fill layer, cap, and structure cycle was repeated twelve times in the 250-year lifespan of the mound. Based on studies at Cahokia (a very large mound center in Illinois)^[5] and other Mississippian culture sites, scholars believe that structures were destroyed and the mounds "renewed" with new higher layers of fill and new colored clay caps.^[6][7] The time span in between renewals at many sites suggests the average lifespan of a ruler and their death and replacement by a successor.^[8]

The mounds location on private property outside the state owned park meant it was not protected as the mounds inside the park are and it was leveled for use as

Mound 1 was partially excavated in the mid to late 1950s by Charles H. Fairbanks and Hale G. Smith for the Department of Anthropology at Florida State University. All information from the excavation except for a single photo and a partial list of artifacts found are currently missing and presumed lost.^[2] Mound 1 is the only mound not currently located within the boundaries of the park and remains privately owned.^[10]

Mound 4 was built between 1250 and 1400. It was started when a layer of white sand was laid down over a previous habitation area and covered with 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) of basket-loaded mound fill and covered with a red-clay cap. It had several more similar construction phases. A series of postholes were discovered at the summit by John Griffin in 1947, but due to time constraints with the work season he could not proceed any further.^[2]

Mound 5, the smallest mound at the site, went through at least two phases of mound construction. It was built over a former village area but did not receive a coat of white sand before mound construction as did Mound 4. It seems to have been abandoned sometime during the Late Lake Jackson phase.^[2]

Mound 6 was also built on top of an earlier habitation area, and was also given a layer of light-colored sand before the mound was started. Several layers were added over the years and evidence for habitations structures was found on the successive summits. Artifacts found in the mound date to 1250 to 1400, during the Late Lake Jackson II phase.^[2]

Mound 7 has never been excavated and has almost nothing known about it. Its seriously degraded shape does not even permit its identification as a platform mound with certainty.^[2]

• 
  Mound 1
• 
  Mound 2
• 
  Mound 2
• 
  Mound 4

Plazas

The layout and arrangement of the mounds in the central area of the site suggests that there may have been two large plaza areas. Mounds 2, 3, 4, and 5 form a large rectangular shape that was mostly free of debris. Mounds 2, 3, 6, and 7 also form a rectangular shape that suggests it too was a plaza. Both plazas would have had Butler's Mill Creek (a small stream that once bisected these areas, but whose course was altered in historic times) running through it. Excavations have shown that a clean area between Mounds 2 and 4 was a plaza, but not enough work has been done at the rest of the site to confirm the larger dimension suggested by the first arrangement or the existence of a plaza at the second arrangement at all.^[2]

Connection to the S.E.C.C.

State Park

In May 1966, a T-shaped tract containing 11.5 acres (4.7 ha) was purchased by the State of Florida and designated the Lake Jackson Mounds State Archaeological Site, to be administered by the then Florida Department of Natural Resources. At the time of this purchase, three-quarters of Mound 2 was in the park, all of Mound 4 was included in the park, and about half of Mound 5, with the remaining other mounds still privately owned.^[2] Later more tracts were purchased and as of 2007, only Mound 1 remained outside the boundary of the park.^[10] The large park has areas for such activities as trails for hiking and wooden tables for picnicking.^[15]

The Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is recognized as part of the Native American Heritage Trail under the Florida Division of Historical Resources. There are also two trails available for hiking throughout the park.  The first one is a 0.75 mile interpretive trail that gives a brief glimpse into the Florida Territorial Period (1820-1860).  The land was owned by Colonel Robert Butler as part of a larger estate.  The second trail is 2.2 miles and consists of a nature trail that meanders through the natural growth of native plants and trees.  Visitors on this trail may be able to see a grist mill from the 1800s while hiking.^[16] The Florida State Parks website for Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park provides a great deal of information, including a downloadable map of the park. The park encompasses six out of seven of the known mounds, with two of the largest mounds visible to visitors who use the picnic tables. There is an interpretive exhibit aspect of the park that shares knowledge about the Native Americans who once occupied the site. This is located in the pavilion with the picnic tables.

Archaeological excavations have been ongoing at the park for many years. Any artifacts recovered during these excavations are property of the Florida Division of Historic Resources. They are housed in a storage facility that meets the requirements for curating artifacts under the 36 CFR Part 79 under the Code of Federal Regulations for Section 106 compliance.^[17] Artifacts recovered from various excavations at the park include pottery sherds, shells, flint and other stone tool fragments, burial objects made of copper, mica, and other materials. Vegetative artifacts were also located.^[18]

Admission to the park is low, costing $3 per vehicle and is collected using the honor system. Pedestrians and visitors on bikes are charged only $2.^[19] The park is open for visiting from 8:00am until sunset every day. There are many different activities available at the park, including birding, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Guided tours are available and must be booked two weeks in advance for groups up to 50 visitors. There is parking available and restroom facilities onsite. Pets are allowed as long as they are kept on the leash.^[16]

Endangered species

The park is home to an endangered species of plant, the

]

See also

• Leon-Jefferson culture
• Fort Walton Mound
• List of Mississippian sites

Citations

1. ^ "NPS Focus NRHP search". National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
2. ^
   OCLC 33354967
   .
3. Hudson, Charles M. (1997). "Winter 1539-1540". Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun. University of Georgia Press. pp. 120–128
   .
4. ^
   hdl:10877/3248
   .
5. ^
   ISBN 978-1-56164-032-4
   .
6. ISBN 978-0-252-06821-8. Archived from the original
   on September 5, 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
7. ISBN 978-0-16-072300-1
   .
8. ^ Porth, Steven. Raised ground, Razed structure: Ceramic chronology, occupation and chiefly authority on Mound P at Moundville (PDF) (MA thesis). University of Alabama. pp. 11–12.
9. ^
   ISBN 978-0-8203-2501-9
   . lake jackson copper plates.
10. ^ ^{a b} Rochelle A. Marrinan; Nancy Marie White (2007). "Modeling Fort Walton Culture in Northwest Florida" (PDF). Southeastern Archaeology. 26 (2–Winter): 305. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2013.
11. ^
    JSTOR 20707879
    .
12. hdl:10877/3288
    , retrieved October 24, 2010
13. ^ "Aztalan – Wisconsin's Middle Mississippian Outpost". Milwaukee Public Museum. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
14. ^ "Mississippian World" (article). University of Texas at Austin. August 6, 2003. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
15. ^ "Florida State Parks : Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park". Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
16. ^ ^{a b} "Experiences & Amenities | Florida State Parks". www.floridastateparks.org. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
17. ^ "Federal Register :: Request Access". unblock.federalregister.gov. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
18. ^ "Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological Collections | Florida State Parks". www.floridastateparks.org. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
19. ^ "Hours & Fees | Florida State Parks". www.floridastateparks.org. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

References

• Brown, Robin C. (1994). Florida's First People: 12,000 Years of Human History. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc.
  ISBN 978-1-56164-032-4
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park.

• Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park at Florida State Parks
• Leon County listings at National Register of Historic Places
• Leon County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
• Lake Jackson Mounds State Archaeological Site at Absolutely Florida
• Gabrielle Shahramfar (2008). Determining Fort Walton burial patterns and their relationship within the greater Mississippian world (MA thesis). University of South Florida.