Macon park to include Native history

Group looking at ways to incorporate archaeological finds into Water Works ParkWhen Macon's newest and biggest city park opens to the public next year, you'll be able to picnic in the same spot where people have been eating their dinners for 10,000 years.

Archaeological research is being conducted throughout the 185 acres, surrounded by a bend in the Ocmulgee River, where NewTown Macon is developing Water Works Park. Surface collections in past decades, combined with a new study, reveal hundreds of spear points, primitive knives, shards of prehistoric pottery and more.Officials want to do more than just dig up the past:Sheridan said the park should include American Indian and prehistoric history.

"Indian heritage is probably the least utilized aspect our area has got," he said. "There are three places on the North American continent where there's documented proof of human habitation since the last Ice Age. To me, that's a big deal," he said. "A lot of people would be interested in learning about that and in coming to Macon to do so, and we'd like to help those people."