Alabama's ancient Indian mounds come in all shapes and sizes

Fuller Indian Site in Spanish Fort.

A couple of Saturdays ago, my wife and I rode down to Malbis to eat at one of her favorite restaurants. Our route took us down State Highway 225, between Stockton and Spanish Fort. As we passed General Canby Boulevard, I could not help but remember that it was about a year ago that my son James and I took a few minutes to visit an ancient Indian site that can be found within the large subdivision on the east side of the Blakeley River.

This prehistoric site is known as the Fuller Indian Site and sits on a bluff that overlooks Mobile Bay and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This site, which is listed on the Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail, consists of a shell midden left behind by Indians who gathered there to eat as far back as 5,000 years ago. (“Midden” is just a fancy word for a trash pile.)

Much of this midden mound consists of Rangia clam shells. I later learned that these clams are native to the Gulf of Mexico and were consumed in great numbers by Indians in that area. Many of you have no doubt seen these small clam shells along the beaches at Gulf Shores.

You’ll find this site nestled in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by upscale homes with luxury vehicles parked in the driveways. One of the first things you see when you arrive is a historical marker that tells you more about the site. That marker reads as follows – “This ancient shell midden and the surrounding area were occupied by prehistoric Native Americans dating back 5,000 years. Numerous stone tools and pottery sherds were recovered during a cultural resources study conducted by Archaeological Services, Inc. This archaeological site was donated to the Archaeological Conservancy by the Fuller family in 2006 to be preserved for future generations.”

Most of the midden mound is enclosed within a wooden fence. Up close, you can see that the mound is made up of thousands and thousands of clam shells, many of which are as hard as a rock from age.

Those of you who have been to the Fuller Site before will know how much this site resembles the elaborate shell mounds at Dauphin Island. James and I visited those mounds in August 2017 during a trip to Fort Gaines. Those mounds are contained within a large park that features a network of walking trails that takes visitors in and around the large mounds.

Over the years, I’ve tried to locate and identify any old Indian mounds that can be found in Monroe County, and while I know where a few are located, I haven’t had much luck.  I’ve heard that there are a few scattered about on private property, but the owners prefer to keep their locations private. With that said, if you know of an Indian mound in our area and wouldn’t mind showing it to me, please let me know because I am always up for a good field trip.