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<< Our Photo Pages >> Rock Hawk Effigy Mound - Artificial Mound in United States in The South

Submitted by Michelledubois on Monday, 19 January 2015  Page Views: 8341

Pre-ColumbianSite Name: Rock Hawk Effigy Mound Alternative Name: Rock Eagle mound
Country: United States Region: The South Type: Artificial Mound
Nearest Town: Eatonton
Latitude: 33.344883N  Longitude: 83.175033W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Flickr : Rock Hawk Effigy Mound, Lawrence Shoals Public Recreation Area, Georgia Power, Putnam County, Georgia 1 Image copyright: Alan Cressler (Alan Cressler), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound is an archaeological site in Putnam County, Georgia, U.S.A. It consists of thousands of pieces of quartzite laid in the shape of a large bird. Although it is most often referred to as a hawk, scholars do not know exactly what type of bird the original builders intended to portray.

Only two such effigy mounds have been found east of the Mississippi River. The other, known as Rock Eagle, is also located in Putnam County, approximately thirteen miles to the northwest. The physical condition of Rock Hawk is far below that of its 'sister' site. Viewers must use a degree of imagination to see a bird - let alone a hawk - in the remains. Scholars do not know if there was greater degradation of the Rock Hawk site, greater preservation or reconstruction at Rock Eagle (which is by far the more famous of the two and a greater 'attraction'), or a combination of these or other factors.

Current archaeology suggests that the site was built between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago. The Rock Hawk Effigy is located near the Historical Piedmont Scenic Byway (Georgia Highway 16), which was once the Okfuskee Trail. The prehistoric trail was a major "highway" through the Southeast that ultimately connected Charleston, SC with the Mississippi River.

It is not known who built the Rock Hawk Effigy, nor exactly when or why. Most of what we know comes from the limited research that has been conducted on the mounds and speculation. The effigy was located on land occupied by Native Americans before early settlers took ownership via treaties and land grants shortly after 1800. The effigy consists of milky quartz rocks and is in the shape of a hawk. Some of the rocks are so large that some archaeologists believe they were dragged there with the use of deerskins. The Hawk appears to be flying southeast.

To protect the site, access to the mound is prohibited, and it is surrounded by a tall fence. The Georgia Power company manages the area. It maintains an easily accessible parking area near the mound, as well as a network of hiking trails and other recreational amenities in the area. Visitors are permitted to visit the mound free of charge.

Rock Hawk official web site

This link shows changes to the mound from the time of its location until 2004.

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Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Flickr : A. R. Kelly and the University of Georgia excavated the site in the 1950s. During this excavation Mr. Kelly found a single quartz projectile point and the cremated remains of a human burial. Other rock mounds exist in the state of Georgia that also feature human burials. These tend to be circular mounds of piled rock. Interestingly, the main body of the eagle is a circular pile of rocks over eight... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Flickr : Information sign, Rock Hawk Effigy Mound, Lawrence Shoals Public Recreation Area, Georgia Power, Putnam County, Georgia 1 Image copyright: Alan Cressler (Alan Cressler), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Flickr : information sign, Rock Hawk Effigy Mound, Lawrence Shoals Public Recreation Area, Georgia Power, Putnam County, Georgia 2 Image copyright: Alan Cressler (Alan Cressler), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by durhamnature : Old drawing from "Prehistoric America; The Mound Builders" via archive.org (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Michelledubois : Rock Hawk Effigy Mound (Summer 2010). From this photo it's hard to establish the hawk, however if you climb one of the many viewing towers, it's very easy to still see the hawk - even today!

Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound submitted by Michelledubois : This image is 20+ years old. Currently you can make out the Hawk but the site is being protected by fencing and you must climb a tower to view it from above!

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 21.4km WNW 292° Rock Eagle cairn* Cairn
 68.7km SW 216° Ocmulgee National Monument* Ancient Village or Settlement
 69.3km SW 216° Lamar Mounds* Artificial Mound
 78.9km NNW 346° Sandy Creek terrace complex* Ancient Village or Settlement
 102.0km NNE 15° Georgia Guidestones* Modern Stone Circle etc
 155.9km NNW 343° Kenimer* Artificial Mound
 156.2km NNW 343° Sautee-Nacoochee earthwork Ancient Village or Settlement
 156.8km NNW 342° Nacoochee* Barrow Cemetery
 161.4km NNW 340° Hickorynut Track Rock* Rock Art
 167.3km NW 311° Funk Heritage Center* Museum
 174.0km WNW 300° Etowah Mounds - Mound C* Artificial Mound
 174.1km WNW 300° Etowah Mounds - Mound B* Artificial Mound
 174.1km WNW 300° Etowah Mounds - Mound A* Artificial Mound
 174.2km WNW 300° Etowah Mounds Museum* Museum
 174.2km WNW 300° Etowah Mounds - Ditch and Palisade* Misc. Earthwork
 176.2km WNW 301° Arborrigg* Modern Stone Circle etc
 180.8km NNE 13° South Carolina Rock Art Center* Rock Art
 182.3km NNW 340° Track Rock Gap Archaeological Area* Stone Row / Alignment
 183.0km NNW 340° Track Rock* Rock Art
 205.4km N 355° Nikwasi Mound* Artificial Mound
 211.0km NW 319° Fort Mountain Stone Enclosure* Cairn
 214.7km N 354° Cowee Mound Artificial Mound
 215.1km W 270° Rother L. Harris Reservoir Stone Standing Stone (Menhir)
 217.7km N 1° Judaculla Rock* Rock Art
 227.9km NNW 345° Sculptured Stone near Robbinsville* Sculptured Stone
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Rock Hawk Effigy Mound" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: Rock Hawk Effigy Mound by Anonymous on Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Rock Eagle mound.

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