Located on Sapelo island, another of Georgia’s notable barrier islands, the shell ring complex are three consecutive mounds created by native people and may have been used for ritual or fortification purposes. These three mounds span over 250 feet in diameter and 20 feet in height. The rings have a trench that goes through it with the layering shells oulining the structure. These rings are the largest, but several other similar complexes have been found across the southeast in Georgia and Florida. A litany of artifacts are found within the rings, as well as shells and bones. This evidence has led to theories that the rings were used as trash heaps. At over 4000 years old, the rings on Sapelo island outdate many of the famous archaeological constructions on this planet.
Daniels, G. C. (2018, March 4). Sapelo Shell Rings (2170 BC). LostWorlds.org. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://lostworlds.org/sapelo_shell_rings/.
Martin, A. (n.d.). Sapelo Island. The Georgia Coast Atlas | Sapelo Island. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from http://georgiacoastatlas.org/sapelo-island.html.
Thompson, V. (2017, June 6). Coastal Shell Rings – New Georgia encyclopedia. New Georgia Encyclopedia . Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/coastal-shell-rings.