I was reading Archaeologica during lunch and discovered an article about an American Indian mound in Oxford, Alabama being used as fill dirt for a Sam’s Club. The council members don’t seem to care about the possible historical site being demolished. Instead they are doing “what is best” for the city.
Here are some articles about the destruction of this mound:
- “Wal-Mart and the Mound Builders,” blog post by Heather Pringle on Archeology Magazine web site (July 3, 2009)
- “Oxford taxpayers fund demolition of Indian mound,” By Dan Whisenhunt of The Anniston Star (with picture)
- “Disappearing Indian Mound In Alabama” by Alfred Brophy on The Faculty Lounge (July 5, 2009)
The Archeology Magazine blog article written by Heather Pringle has the best description of the archaeology of the site and of Mound Builders in general. Dan Whisenhunt’s article in The Aniston Star defines the funding and political background to the deal between the CDA and Taylor Corporation.
Do we really need another Sam’s or Wal-Mart so much that an archaeological site has to be destroyed for our shopping pleasure?
