Ocmulgee national monument: a place in history
marie devers

1on the eastern side of macon, georgia, lies a large stretch of land known as the ocmulgee (pronounced "oke-mull-gee") national monument. the area is home to many artifacts from different times throughout a span of 10,000 years. at the visitor center, sightseers can view objects that once belonged to the native americans who lived on the land. workers have found arrowheads, pieces of pottery, and tools made by these early peoples.

all around the ocmulgee national monument, evidence of several different civilizations exist. researchers can estimate the years when a civilization thrived based on the items that they left behind. by dating these items, scientists have determined many facts about the people who lived in this area. after one civilization faded, another group developed on a different section of the land. in the center of these civilizations, the people built large flat-topped mounds. these structures are one of the most remarkable features of the area.

3because so many artifacts exist here, visitors can see the many moments of history that have happened in this single place. visitors can see where the spanish settled in st. augustine and where english pioneers first lived. they can also observe the british trading post, which still stands today where it was built in the 1600s. the earth lodge, complete with its original 1000-year-old floor, stands on the monument grounds. visitors can come here just as the societies of the past did to discuss the philosophies of the time.

the area’s agriculture has changed over the years. where people once grew squash and corn, later people mined the clay that is used to make bricks. the area has been covered by railroad tracks and has hosted parts of the civil war. an infamous camp for union prisoners of war once stood in the region and held many well-known soldiers.

5modern technology took its toll on the mounds in the area. people riding motorcycles damaged much of the beautiful scenery, and the building of railroads forever destroyed large sections of land. worried residents organized their efforts to preserve the area from further development. to prove that the region held historical importance, researchers excavated in the area. immediately, the workers unearthed treasures of the past. in june of 1934, congress named the area a national monument, which means that the area is protected by the government. because the area is protected, many generations will be able to enjoy the site. in this way, a national monument is a lot like a national park.

today, people come to the park for the annual cherry blossom festival and the ocmulgee indian celebration. people visit to walk on the trails past historic buildings and the mysterious mounds. children can take part in the park’s pottery classes and other hands-on historical arts and crafts. just as in the past, the ocmulgee national monument is a place to which human beings seem to be drawn

why did the author write this passage?
a) to people understand technology
b) to describe a popular american location
c) to inform people about indian arrowheads
d) to sell tickets to an arts and crafts class
19)
what is the main idea in this passage?
a) why a place is very important
b) where the civil war took place
c) when a place became a national monument
d) how to get to the ocmulgee national monument