Temples and Peace: Preserving Alabama's Ancient Heritage, 1937

This silent film from 1937, with Reel 1 missing, focuses on the preservation and study of Native American mound-building culture in Alabama.

Reel 2 provides a detailed look inside the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa, where a rich collection of artifacts from mound-building Indians is displayed. The artifacts include pottery, stone and shell ornaments, arrowheads, flints, along with bone tools like awls, needles, and fish hooks, offering insights into the daily life and artistic capabilities of these ancient peoples.
The film also shows the meticulous work of reconstructing human and animal skeletons, piecing together broken pottery to understand and preserve the cultural heritage.
Furthermore, it documents the active role of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in archaeological preservation. CCC units are seen excavating and reconstructing mounds at Mounds State Park, contributing to both conservation efforts and public education about Alabama's pre-Columbian history.

"Temples and Peace" captures the intersection of history, archaeology, and conservation, highlighting the efforts to safeguard the legacy of Alabama's indigenous peoples through scientific study and hands-on preservation projects.