Georgia’s Coast and Barrier Islands: A Short Beach Read

Beyond a stretch of sand at the edge of Georgia, along the waterways and causeways surrounding the barrier islands, people of the Guale and Mocama tribes built villages, towns, and communities. They fished and hunted, fought and loved, lived and died for 4000 years. From 2,500 B.C.- 1500s, the coast and sea islands were occupied by indigenous people who left behind large shell middens. Shell middens are discarded oyster and clam shells usually found in a heap representing a trash dump or a food/material preparation area. However, some shell middens are intentionally constructed donut-shaped mounds up to 20 feet tall.

By 1568, the Spanish arrived from Florida and construction of missions began on several of the islands. These Franciscan outposts were built to secure the land for Spain and to convert the native population to Christianity. However, the missions could not withstand the slave raids and pirate attacks of the 1680’s and were abandoned. The structures, being constructed with a wattle and daub technique, have been lost to time, but the sites are designated with historical markers and in some cases have yielded valuable insights to the archaeology community.

The Spanish lost control to the British in 1742 after the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Simons Island nine years after General Oglethorpe established the Colony of Georgia in 1733. Following this, the plantation era of rice and Sea Island cotton (a rare and luxurious form of long fiber cotton), cultivation continued for one hundred years. During this time the distinctive Gullah-Geechee language and culture developed.

The islands were occupied by Union forces in the early part of the Civil War and later became winter vacation destinations for the wealthy northerners.

Today the islands are protected by National and State laws. Visitors can kayak the Altamaha River and around Little Tybee Island or bike along the miles of trails on Jekyll and St. Simons. Exploring Driftwood Beach on Jekyll and visiting the wild horses on Cumberland is a favorite of many.

Enjoy a seaside holiday on the Georgia Coast but remember the history of the land is longer than the coastline itself.