Fort Gaines Cemetery Site
Why it's listed
A low earthen mound sits inside the newer city cemetery at Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia, on a high bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River. It is circular, about four feet high and 40 feet across, and is topped by a gazebo and surrounded by graves. Shells and stone chips have been found nearby. The mound has never been excavated, so its purpose is unknown, and its rounded shape may partly reflect erosion or cultivation. Testing at a Confederate gun emplacement on a hill about 150 yards north produced early Mississippian pottery of a type found from Moundville, Alabama, to Fort Walton, Florida. That find suggests a prehistoric village once lay around the mound, though development has apparently disturbed or destroyed it, leaving the mound as an isolated remnant. Portions of five sites of similar age lie just over a mile north, and comparable sites farther north are now flooded. The property was listed because it may add to knowledge of the lower Chattahoochee River area.
Significance in brief: The mound has never been excavated, so little is known about it, but the nomination argues it could add to the cultural history of the lower Chattahoochee River area and possibly a broader region. Nearby testing of a Civil War gun emplacement turned up early Mississippian pottery, suggesting a prehistoric village once existed around the mound. The mound is the isolated remnant of that area.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74000669, listed December 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of SR 37, W of Chattahoochee River, Fort Gaines |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Listed | December 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000669 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | Pre-Columbian |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a cemetery; the mound is described as relatively undisturbed, with a gazebo on top and graves around it. Surrounding development has apparently disturbed or destroyed the village area. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 31.60224, -85.05224 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74000669.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q38251681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.