Ocmulgee Indian Mounds

     For this blog, I will blog about our field trip to the Ocmulgee National Monument (otherwise known as the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds) on October 23, 2012. We traveled there to study and learn about the different types of soil. Dr. Rood led the class into the woods, off the unbeaten path, to show us the different layers of soil. We had just learned about the different levels of soil in the classroom, but to get to see it in real life was pretty cool.
     Dr. Rood first showed us the forest floor and how the top layer is made up of dead leaves, branches, and other things that use to be living. Now it is slowly decomposing on the top, but it is still identifiable to most people. He then pulled back a little bit of the top layer to show the next part. It was less identifiable to me, but it was no problem for him. You could see how much more decay had occurred. Next he pulled back even more of the top layer to show the soil and you could clearly see how the decaying leaves and twigs just kinda became the top soil. It was very dark in color and I bet better than any bag of Miracle Grow soil you could buy at the store.
     Then Dr. Rood raced through the woods like a young boy just happy to be outside, surrounded by nature. He ran and then jumped into a small creek ravine that runs through the park. In the creek he showed us the different layers of soil in the ravine walls. I was amazed how he was able to just name all the different parts of the soil, not to mention the trees and plant life along the paths.
     After we were done exploring the forest and looking at soil, we made our way to the Ocmulgee Earth Lodge. We saw what the inside looks like and learned a little of the history. It was constructed by the people of the Mississippian culture and the floor inside is 1,000 years old. Also that the structure is nearly a perfect circle and that there is a large bird effigy at the head of the structure where the chief would sit.

One of the Indian Mounds