A011B239 Ec99 4D57 933C Da4A42A80E99 1 105 C E1714763001387 — View of the Florence Indian Mound Museum from the top of the mound (Bess Christopher/ The Bama Buzz)

Along the Tennessee river in Florence, Alabama stands the tallest earthwork in the Tennessee River Valley. The Florence Indian Mound is thousands of years old and over 40 feet tall. The mound is available to visit along with a museum just below the base of the mound.

Keep reading to learn more about this historic mound and catch a glimpse of Florence from many years ago.

The Museum

72497A3A B317 4Fa0 8256 C388Edea066A 1 105 C — The entrance to the museum (Bess Christopher/ The Bama Buzz)

The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hidden alongside the Tennessee River, the museum is open to the public 6 days a week and admission to the museum is fairly inexpensive. The museum offers an experience through a realistic cave full of artifacts and history from the beginning of life in Lauderdale County to the mid 1800s.

There are plenty of artifacts displayed throughout the museum that were extracted from the mound including tools, weapons, jewelry and pottery. The museum also offers a short film experience talking about the origin stories of the mound and excavations of the mound.

The Mound

7978D7A6 9303 4C66 9E57 37E2Ebd19952 1 105 C — View of the Indian Mound from the museum entrance (Bess Christopher/ The Bama Buzz)

The Florence Indian Mound may not look like much upon first glimpse, but this large earthen mound is stands at 43-feet tall and there are 70 stairs that lead to the top of the mound. Once you reach the top of the mound you are able to overlook the surrounding area, including the river.

The exact origin of the mound is unknown but there are many theories as to why the mound was built including a burial ground or ceremonial site. The mound itself represents the rich history and cultural importance of the Native American tribes that once thrived in this area many years ago.

The History

A7A5Ad56 478F 406A 913F F64B853Eab3E 1 105 C — Short film of the history of the mound in the museum (Bess Christopher/ The Bama Buzz)

This massive earthen mound being located in Lauderdale County is not much of a surprise, with the inhabitance of Lauderdale County dating back to over 10,000 years ago. Many believe that Lauderdale county was the first inhabited area in the state of Alabama due to its abundance of water sources and rich farming land. The mound itself is thought to have been erected between 100 and 500 AD during the middle woodland period.

The exact use for this mound is unknown but during the period of inhabitance, Native American tribes lived around the base of the mound. The mound is thought to have been used during the woodland period, the Mississippian people, and in the 1800s a man built a house on top of the mound. Though the mound is now just admired, it served a much greater purpose to many generations of settlers in the Florence area.

344F262F 8A23 40D9 Ab43 F379900247B2 1 105 C — Artifacts recovered from the mound displayed in the museum (Bess Christopher/ The Bama Buzz)

Summer is getting close, if you are planning on doing any site seeing around the state make sure to add Florence to your list. Along with the Florence Indian Mound Museum, there are many other historical sites to check out in Lauderdale County. The Florence Indian Mound Museum is the perfect place to visit for any history lover!

Have you ever visited the Florence Indian Mound or any of the other mounds located in Alabama? Let us know on our socials @Thebamabuzz !

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