Cherokee Historical Society Acquires Native American Collection

The Cherokee County Historical Society has acquired the Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb Native American collection.

This collection contains a significant number of artifacts from the Long Swamp archaeology site in Ball Ground, the non profit organization said in its press release.

Long Swamp’s peak Native American occupation occurred between A.D. 1100 to 1200, when the site included a mound, palisade wall and village. Receipt of the collection was made possible by grants from Bank of North Georgia, Marshall and Kathy Day and Skip and Helen Spears.

The collection is unusual in its scope, as it contains 16 pottery bowls and jars, earspools, pipes, carved pottery figurine fragments, beads and many other items, according to the historical society.

Due to limited space, a select portion of the collection will be on permanent display at the Cherokee County History Museum beginning in January. The Historical Society and the Georgia State University Anthropology Department will collaborate to use the identification and classification process as a teaching tool for archaeology students.

“This is an exciting time for Cherokee County residents,” said Cherokee County Historical Society Executive Director Stefanie Joyner. “There are hundreds of archaeological sites in the county, and visitors will soon be able to see artifacts from two of the most important locations: the Long Swamp collection at the Cherokee County History Museum and the Hickory Log collection at the Funk Heritage Center.”

The addition of this collection, along with the existing Harold Johnston and Jack Richardson Native American collections, will allow the society to interpret thousands of years of multiple Native American cultures in Cherokee County.

“It is rare to have such a large and diverse collection of items from a single site,” archivist Lisa Tressler added. “For that site to be one of the few mounds in Cherokee County makes it all the more important. It is an honor to have the opportunity to share a glimpse into the lives of Cherokee County’s early occupants.”

For more information, contact the society at (770) 345-3288.

Photo credits: Cherokee County Historical Society