 Stone
Walls of Fort Mountain
Fort Mountain
derives its name from an ancient stone fort of unknown origin that exists
on the high point of the mountain. This construction consists of a curious
wall of loose stones rising to a height of two or three feet and having
a width of about 12 feet. The wall extends 885 feet from the brink of a
cliff on the east side of the mountain to another precipice on the west
side.
There are 29 pits scattered fairly regularly along the wall, with the
ruins of a gateway at one point. Nobody really knows who built the mysterious
wall and for what purpose. Due to the fact that there are no artifacts
of written records about the origin of the wall, many archaeologists believe
that the real truth about it may never be unearthed.
There are many legends and theories about the origin of the wall, but
only a few are considered seriously by archaeologists. Speculation regarding
the builders and their purpose covers a wide field. These speculations
include references to a pre-historic Indian religious site, the fortification
by Welsh, defense fortification of Spanish conquistadors hunting gold,
white people that could see in the dark and a honeymoon haven for Cherokee
Indian newlyweds.
Pictures
of the Stone Wall
Woodland
Indian Religious Site
The most accepted theory offered by experts is that the wall was built
by a tribe of Woodland
period Indians, who lived around 500 AD, possibly for religious purpose.
This theory is supported by the fact that the wall extends from a precipice
of the east side of the mountain due west to a similar point on the other
side. Consequently, the sun rises on one end of the wall and sets on the
other. This theory is also supported by the fact that many Indians tribes
used to worship the sun. The fact that no artifacts of any kind have ever
been found in or around the area of the stone wall also supports the theory
that the Indians built the wall for religious purpose. Indian ceremonial
objects used in religious ceremonies were always taken away with the Indians
when they moved to a new location.
Welsh
Fortification
Another theory about the stone wall's origin involves a legendary Welsh
Prince named Madoc. he supposedly led 200 adventuresome Welshmen from Wales
in 11 ships in the year 1170 and landed on what is now the Alabama cost,
near Mobile. The story relates that the ships returned to Wales to bring
more settlers, leaving Prince Madoc and his 200 followers to establish
a colony. However, repeated attacks by Indians drove them far to the north
until they found refuge in what is now the North
Georgia mountain area. There, the Welshmen lived in peace for many
years until the Cherokee
killed many of them and intermarried with the survivors. According to this
theory, the Welshmen built the stone wall possibly as a fortification against
the hostile Indians.
Spanish
conquistadors' Fortification
The least accepted theory relates that Spanish conquistadors, searching
for gold, possible led by Hernando de Soto, build the wall in 1540 as a
defense against Indian attacks. However, it is a historical fact that the
Spanish were in the area for less than two weeks. According to archaeologists,
Spanish conquistadors could never have built the massive wall in that length
of time.
Cherokee
Indian Honeymoon Haven
There is another theory that describes the wall as a honeymoon haven
for Cherokee
newlyweds. This theory is believed to have been started by local wags who
referred to the circular pits as "love nests."
Moon-Eyed
People
Beside these theories, the legend about a pre-historic white race is
one of the popular Indian tales. According to Cherokee Indian legends,
the wall was built by a race of people the Cherokee referred to as the
"Moon-Eyes." Ancient tribal chiefs said their ancestors used to tell these
stories about people with fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes that occupied
the mountain areas until Cherokee invaders finally dispersed them. The
Indian tales referred to the white tribesman as "Moon-Eyed People" because
it was said that they could see in the dark but were nearly blind in daylight.
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