Ancient Mississippi and the Mississippi of today are two very different places. For instance, ancient Mississippi was home to a structure known as the Great Wall of Mississippi. Many locals have never heard of the historic wall and that’s because not much is known about it. In fact, its origins, as well as its exact location, remain a mystery to this day, making it one of the most fascinating of all the historical sites in Mississippi.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China is among the world’s most recognized sites.
Severin.stalder/Wikimedia
The Great Wall of Mississippi isn’t nearly as large or well known as its Asian counterpart; however, it’s got an interesting backstory that continues to baffle to this day.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
And it appears the wall has been baffling the public for quite some time.
Scott Beale/Flickr In November 1900, the New York Times re-ran an article by the New Orleans Picayune, which stated, “One of the scientific puzzles of the State of Mississippi is the Brandywine Stone Wall. It has long been a problem that is yet unsolved.”
Also known as the Brandywine Wall, the Great Wall of Mississippi was made of limestone and located somewhere in Claiborne County.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Just how the wall came to be remains a mystery. Some believe it was built by Mother Nature, while others assign credit to a lost civilization that once resided near Brandywine Creek.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
These days, there’s no visible wall near Brandywine Creek, which flows from Claiborne County to Copiah County.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
However, it’s likely the wall was located nearby since portions of the creek feature a rocky bottom.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
Plus, there’s a huge deposit of large rocks near the creek.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
Over the years, residents have actually harvested the rocks, using them to create lawn décor.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
Lastly, the bed of rock, if devoid of any soil on top, appears to be relatively flat and stretches for about one mile, resembling a stone wall.
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
Check out the video below to learn more about the Great Wall of Mississippi.
Severin.stalder/Wikimedia
WJTV 12 News/YouTube
Scott Beale/Flickr
In November 1900, the New York Times re-ran an article by the New Orleans Picayune, which stated, “One of the scientific puzzles of the State of Mississippi is the Brandywine Stone Wall. It has long been a problem that is yet unsolved.”
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
So, did you know about this ancient Mississippi mystery? Have you ever seen any remnants of the Great Wall of Mississippi? Know of another place in the state with a baffling backstory? Tell us in the comments!
This isn’t the only place in the state with mysterious origins. There’s also the Nanih Waiya Mound, which is revered as the most significant Native American mound site in Mississippi.
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Address: Brandywine Creek, Mississippi, USA
