Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park

The Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is located in Tallahassee, Florida. It is one of the three most important archaeological sites in the Panhandle of the state. It was once a chiefdom, as well as the ceremonial center of Fort Walton. There were originally six earthwork mounds, numerous village residences and a constructed public plaza. The park is now only three mounds, down from its original six. The ceremonial plaza is the former location of gatherings and ritual games. Artists and workers lived in the residences that were at the site. The Fort Walton Culture was the southernmost group of Mississippian culture. They likely lived near the mounds between 1000 and 1500. The mounds are a sign that the area was likely a religious and/or political center. The descendents of the Fort Walton Culture people were probably Apalachee people spoke primarily Muskogean. Artifacts found at the mounds include motifs. Radio-carbon dating places some of the findings to be from approximately 1190 through 1475. Twenty-four burials have been recovered from Mound 3. All of these burials features garments and grave goods. As the levels of burials increased, the good became more elaborate and included beads, pearls, copper and tobacco pipes. The site was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The complex is managed like a regular state park.