Researchers have taken samples of earth from each of the site's mounds, including Mound A. From these samples, they learned that people made the peak of Mound A with dirt taken from just below the surface of Macon Ridge.
The platform section of this mound is unusual. Some archaeologists think that people built this section in less than 90 days! American Indians made it in a single episode, mixing different colored soils found around the
The image above is of a soil profile, or side view, of the interior of the platform section of Mound A. This image makes it easy to see the many different kinds of earth that were used to make this part of the mound.
Archaeologists get core samples by pushing a tube into the ground and pulling out a single column of earth. This allows them to look at the layers of earth in the lab just as they were in the ground. These cores let them see how, and sometimes how quickly, people built the site's features. Archaeologists took the core pictured here from the southern part of the platform section of Mound A. Some of these cores are very long. The tire in the background gives a sense of scale.
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site. The result was a rich pattern of colors and textures. While there is no way to tell why people chose these soils, it is clear that they chose them with great care.