RECENT GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND NEW INTERPRETATIONS OF ETOWAH’S PALISADE

Abstract

We discuss excavations conducted at Etowah's palisade wall in 1962 and 1995 and geophysical data collected in 2008. Artifact collections indicate the wall was built during the Wilbanks phases (A.D. 1250–1375) and most likely during the Late Wilbanks phase (A.D. 1325–1375). Radiocarbon dates obtained from charred wall posts are ambiguous but do not contradict a Late Wilbanks phase date. We explore estimates of the labor required to build the palisade and conclude that the wall could have been built in a relatively short period of time by the labor pool living at Etowah. Comparison of the excavation and geophysical data allows us to argue that the wall surrounded most of the site, but it is unclear as to whether the entire site was enclosed. We also argue that bastions were not positioned at regular intervals along the palisade's perimeter. Ultimately we suggest that Etowah's palisade may have been built for purposes other than simply just defense.