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'{{short description|Prehistoric effigy mound in Ohio, United States}} {{About|the site in the United States|the site in the Scotland|Skelmorlie|the site in Canada|Serpent Mounds Park}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Great Serpent Mound | nrhp_type = nhl | image = The Great Serpent Mound.jpg | caption = | nearest_city = [[Peebles, Ohio]] | coordinates = {{coord|39|01|35|N|83|25|51|W|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{Cite GNIS|1062580|Serpent Mound}}</ref> | mapframe = yes | mapframe-marker = historic | mapframe-zoom = 15 | area = | architect = | architecture = | added = October 15, 1966 | refnum = 66000602<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref> }}The '''Great Serpent Mound''' is a 1,348-foot-long (411&nbsp;m), three-foot-high prehistoric [[effigy mound]] located in [[Peebles, Ohio|Peebles]], [[Ohio]]. The mound itself resides on the [[Serpent Mound crater]] plateau, running along the [[Ohio Brush Creek]] in [[Adams County, Ohio]]. The mound is the largest serpent effigy in the world. The Serpent Mound is believed to have been built by the [[Adena culture|Adena peoples]] around 320 BCE, and then either added to or repaired by the [[Fort Ancient]] peoples around 1100 CE. It was first reported through surveys by Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis, and was featured in their historic volume ''Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley'', published in 1848 by the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. The [[United States Department of Interior]] designated the mound as a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1966. The mound is maintained through the [[Ohio History Connection]], a non profit organization dedicated to preserving historical sites throughout Ohio. == Description == [[File:Serpent Mound Plaque.jpg|thumb|left|Ohio [[historical marker]]]] Effigy mounds can be traced back throughout several civilizations. The significance of The Serpent Mound stems greatly from its size and historical relevance. Made up of three parts, The Serpent Mound extends over 1,376 feet (419&nbsp;m) in length, varying from 9" to over 3' (30–100&nbsp;cm) in height. The mound stands with a width varying between 20 and 25 feet based on the section.The Serpent Mound conforms to the surrounding land, as it rests on the bank of the [[Ohio Brush Creek]]. The mound itself winds back and forth for more than eight hundred feet, with its tail coiling in seven areas throughout the mound itself. The mound features a triple-coiled tail at the end of the structure, often viewed as a benchmark of the mound. Yellowish [[clay]] and [[ash]] acts as the main constituent of the mound, with layer of rocks and soil reinforcing the outer layer. The open-mouth head of the serpent itself wraps around an east facing, 120-foot (37&nbsp;m)-long, hollow oval feature. The feature is representative of an egg, with an apparent depiction of the snake consuming it. Many scholars presume that the oval is a representation of the Sun, the body of a frog, or merely the remnant of a platform. The western side of the effigy features a triangular mound approximately 31.6 feet (9.6 m) at its base and long axis, reminiscent of other serpent effigies in [[Canada]] and [[Scotland]]. == Origin and chronology == In previous years, the civilization responsible for the creation of the Serpent Mound had been highly disputed amongst archaeologists, as can be seen in the material published in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/serp/hd_serp.htm |title=Great Serpent Mound |date=October 2002 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.metmuseum.org}}</ref> Its construction was often attributed to different civilizations. Very little additional evidence, such as [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] and burials, can be found at the site of the mound, leaving it hard for archaeologists to trace its construction back to one civilization. Archaeologists generally acknowledged that the [[Adena culture|Adena peoples]] (800 BCE to 100 CE) and the [[Fort Ancient]] peoples (1000 to 1750 CE) as the main contributors to the mound's creation. They argued that the Adena completed a majority of their contribution to the mound around 320 BCE, while the Fort Ancient contributed some work around 1070 CE. The mound's lack of physical artifacts has led archaeologists to rely on radiocarbon dating to determine when the mound was created. An article published in July 2014, titled "''New Radiocarbon Dates Suggest Serpent Mound is More Than 2,000 Years Old''",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-27 |title=New Radiocarbon Dates Suggest Serpent Mound is More Than 2,000 Years Old – The Ancient Earthworks Project |url=http://ancientearthworksproject.org/1/post/2014/07/new-radiocarbon-dates-suggest-serpent-mound-is-more-than-2000-years-old.html |access-date=2022-04-26 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327153036/http://ancientearthworksproject.org/1/post/2014/07/new-radiocarbon-dates-suggest-serpent-mound-is-more-than-2000-years-old.html |archive-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> provides evidence supporting the mound's creation by the Adena peoples around 300 BCE (2300 years ago). The article references the radiocarbon data that was published in October 2014 by "''The Journal of Archaeological Science''".<ref>Herrmann, Edward W., G. William Monaghan, William F. Romain, Timothy M. Schilling, Jarrod Burks, Karen L. Leone, Matthew P. Purtill, and Alan C. Tonetti (2014), [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440314002465 A New Multistage Construction Chronology for the Great Serpent Mound, USA.] Journal of Archaeological Science 50:117-125.</ref> Furthermore, these scholars argued that it was renovated around 1400 CE by Fort Ancient peoples. In 2019, additional research was published in "''The Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology"'' by Monaghan and Hermann.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Monaghan |first1=G. William |last2=Herrmann |first2=Edward W. |date=2019-01-01 |title=Serpent MoundStill Built by the Adena, and Still Rebuilt During the Fort Ancient Period |url=https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/mcja/article/44/1/84/217212/Serpent-MoundStill-Built-by-the-Adena-and-Still |journal=Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology |language=en |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=84–93 |doi=10.1080/01461109.2018.1511156 |jstor=26599989 |s2cid=158652932 |issn=0146-1109}}</ref> These scholars corroborate the 2014 research, and refine the radiocarbon dates. Monaghan and Hermann determined that the mound was built around 2,100–2,300 years ago (300-100 BCE) during the Adena period, but was subsequently rebuilt (or repaired) about 900 years ago (1100 CE) during the Fort Ancient period. Nevertheless, archaeologist Bradley Lepper recently expressed some doubt about the connection with the Adena peoples.<ref name="Lepper pp. 62–75">{{cite journal | last=Lepper | first=Bradley T. | title=On the Age of Serpent Mound: A Reply to Romain and Colleagues | journal=Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=43 | issue=1 | date=2018-01-02 | issn=0146-1109 | doi=10.1080/01461109.2017.1419917 | pages=62–75| s2cid=165388387 }}</ref> The [[Serpent Mounds Park|Serpent Mound]] at [[Rice Lake (Ontario)|Rice Lake]] in [[Peterborough County]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], dating over 2,000 years old, has also been linked with the Adena peoples.<ref>W. A. Kenyon, [https://archive.org/download/moundsofsacredea00keny/moundsofsacredea00keny.pdf Mounds of Sacred Earth – Burial Mounds of Ontario.] Royal Ontario Museum, 1986. ROM Archaeology Monograph 9. {{ISBN|0-88854-303-4}}</ref> == Prehistory of Ohio == {{Main|Prehistory of Ohio}} [[File:Chromesun serpent mound spiral01.jpg|thumb|240px|The spiral at the tail of the Serpent Mound]] Several groups of [[Paleo-Indians]] (13000 BCE–7000 BCE) occupied the land in Ohio prior to the [[Adena culture|Adena]] and [[Hopewell tradition|Hopewell]] cultures. Evidence shows that numerous civilizations of Paleo-Indians occupied the land in Ohio, thriving through [[hunter-gatherer]] techniques, and ranged throughout the land. The Paleo-Indians hunted large game such as [[mastodon]]. Archaeologists have found remains of more 150 mastodons in Ohio,<ref>[https://www.hanover.edu/about/news/2021/mastodon-installed-science-center/ World’s most-complete mastodon debuts in science center.] hanover.edu</ref> as well as the remains from other large game. The most complete mastodon skeleton was excavated at the [[Burning Tree Mastodon]] site. [[Clovis point]] spear heads have been found that indicate interaction with other groups of Paleo-Indians that also hunted large game. The [[Paleo Crossing site]] and [[Nobles Pond site]] tools, like [[spear-thrower]]s, were more sophisticated. Base camps were established for winter lodging. The [[Glacial Kame culture]], a late Archaic group, traded for sea shell and copper with other groups and were used as a sign of prestige within the group, for respected healers and hunters. The objects were buried with their owners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shelby County Historical Society – Indians – About the Paleo-Indians |url=https://www.shelbycountyhistory.org/schs/indians/paleoindians.htm |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=www.shelbycountyhistory.org}}</ref> Following the ancient Paleo-Indians, the [[Woodland period|Woodland Period]] (800 BCE–1200 CE) of the Post-Archaic Period is known for its rich ritual and artistic life and well-developed villages. The Woodland Period is well known for the emergence of [[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthworks]] and [[mound]]s, which were commonly used for burials as well. Along with hunted and gathered for their food and game, many civilizations cultivated crops such as [[maize]], [[Cucurbita|squash]] and [[bean]]s. The Adena and Hopewell cultures flourished during the Early and Middle Woodland periods, while the population of the Woodland people expanded dramatically. Several groups of the Woodland people lived in larger villages, surrounded by defensive walls or ditches that were built for protection. Ritual and artistic endeavors waned during the Late Woodland period, as well as trading amongst other groups. Many of the earthworks and effigy mounds were built early on in this period, while these cultures lack construction of new mounds after their inception.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Lepper |first1=Bradley T. |last2=Frolking |first2=Tod A. |last3=Pickard |first3=William H. |date=2019-01-02 |title=Debating the Age of Serpent Mound: A Reply to Romain and Herrmann's Rejoinder to Lepper Concerning Serpent Mound |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/01461109.2018.1507806 |journal=Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=42–56 |doi=10.1080/01461109.2018.1507806 |s2cid=165322960 |issn=0146-1109}}</ref> During the late prehistoric period (900 CE–1650 CE) the villages of civilizations such as the Adena people and the Fort Ancient people were much larger. These villages were often built on a higher ground near a river, commonly surrounded by a wooden stockade. After a long hiatus, civilizations returned to building earthworks and effigy mounds, but not as frequently as during the Woodland period.<ref name=":0" /> == Civilizations of the Midwest == === The Adena culture === The [[Adena culture]] consists of the pre-contact American Indian culture that lived throughout the midwest in states such as Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and most predominantly Ohio. The majority of these civilizations inhabited the Scioto River and Hocking Valleys in southern Ohio, as well as the Kanawha Valley near Charleston, West Virginia. This period is often referred to as The Early Woodland Period, ranging between 800 BCE and 1 CE The name “Adena” refers to the culture that once inhabited this land rather than a singular group or tribe. The name originates from the estate of Ohio Governor Thomas Worthington, which can be found about one and a half miles northwest of [[Chillicothe, Ohio]]. The estate itself belongs to a small town in Ohio called [[Ross County, Ohio|Ross County]], which Worthington referred to as “Adena”, a Hebrew name that “was given to places for the delightfulness of their situations”. Worthington's estate was previously home to an ancient burial mound, standing 26 feet tall, hence the name "The Adena Mound". Archaeologists attribute the creation of these civilizations to the Adena culture as a whole, though are unsure of the specific tribes that inhabited the land. The title is used out of archaeological convenience, that encompasses similarities in artifact style, architecture, and other cultural practices, allowing archaeologists to distinguish the Adena culture from other cultures in the region at different time periods. The Adena Mound site became the "type site" of the culture itself due to its exemplification of all the culture's significant features. In light of this, the site's title was later applied to the entire culture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adena culture – Ohio History Central |url=https://ohiohistorycentral.org/enwiki/w/Adena_Culture |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=ohiohistorycentral.org}}</ref> As were many of the tribes of the Woodland period, the Adena people were hunter-gatherers. As well as hunting large game and reaping the lands crop, the Adena people survived through domesticating various crops such as squash, sunflower, sumpweed, goosefoot, knotweed, maygrass, and tobacco.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Indians – Ohio History Central |url=https://ohiohistorycentral.org/enwiki/w/American_Indians#:~:text=From%20these%20missionaries,%20historians%20know,Myaamia%20(in%20western%20Ohio). |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=ohiohistorycentral.org}}</ref> They often lived in small villages with surrounding gardens but moved frequently to follow various animal herds while planting and feeding on various types of nuts along the way. In addition to undertaking small-scale horticultural production, the Adena people are also known for their production of clay pottery, having been one of the first to cultures to bring it to Ohio. Observed through remains found at the type site, achaeologists characterize the Adena's clay pottery through its large, thick-walled vessels, resembling a modern-day bowl. Archaeologists believe that this clay pottery was used to cook ground seeds into an oatmeal-like substance. The Adena were known for their burial practices, having buried their dead in prominent mounds throughout the midwest. Many archaeologists believe that these structures served as territorial markers for the Adena people. The mounds themselves were often accompanied by small circular earthen enclosures that many archaeologists believe were once used for rituals. The Miamisburg Mound in [[Montgomery County, Ohio]], is home to the largest Adena burial mound in the state. Mounds such as this hosted multiple burials, characterized by the rituals performed and the funerary objects worn such as bracelets, ear spools, gorgets and other ornaments. Larger ornaments such as bones and stone tools were often worn around the neck. The deceased individual was either cremated or placed on their back in timber-lined tombs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Webb |first=William S. |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.03744 |title=The Adena people |date=2001 |publisher=University of Tennessee Press |hdl=2027/heb.03744 |isbn=978-0-87049-159-7 |language=en}}</ref> By 1 CE, the Adena culture began to decline and their civilizations began to evolve into what is known as [[Hopewell culture|The Hopewell culture]]. Numerous Adena groups began to build larger earthworks and effigy mounds, expanding their efforts to acquire exotic raw materials such as copper and mica. Many people of The Hopewell culture continued to follow the old ways of the Adena people. In some regions, including Southwestern Ohio, the Adena way of life persisted well into the first century CE through the efforts of these people. === The Fort Ancient Culture === {{Main|Fort Ancient culture|l1=Fort Ancient Culture}} [[File:Ancient monuments fort ancient map.gif|thumb|Map of Fort Ancient from 1848]] The Fort Ancient Culture refers to the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[Archaeological culture|Cultures]] that flourished from 1000 CE to 1750 CE, predominantly inhabiting land near the [[Ohio River]] valley. These civilizations flourished in the modern-day regions of southern [[Ohio]], northern [[Kentucky]], southeastern [[Indiana]] and western [[West Virginia]]. The Fort Ancient tribes are often referred to as a "sister culture" of the [[Mississippian culture]], though can be distinguished through the time period in which they thrived and their many cultural differences. Along with their relation to the Mississippian culture, evidence suggests that the Fort Ancient Culture were not the direct descendants of the [[Hopewellian culture|Hopewellian Culture]]. Despite what many believe, the tribes of the Fort Ancient Culture were not responsible for the creation of The Great Serpent Mound, though contributed to its physical appearance through maintenance around 200 CE The name of the culture originates from the [[Fort Ancient (Lebanon, Ohio)|Fort Ancient]] archeological site. However, the Fort Ancient Site is now thought to have been built by [[Ohio Hopewell]]ian people, having later been occupied later by the succeeding Fort Ancient culture. The site is located on a hill above the [[Little Miami River]], close to [[Lebanon, Ohio]]. Despite its name, most [[archaeologist]]s do not believe that Fort Ancient was used primarily as a fortress by either the Ohio Hopewell culture or the Fort Ancient Culture. Archaeologists believe that it was more likely used as a ceremonial location. [[File:Fort Ancient Tools and other artifacts HRoe 2011.jpg|thumb|Fort Ancient tools found in Maysville, KY]] In 1996, the team of Robert V. Fletcher and Terry L. Cameron (under the supervision of the [[Ohio History Connection|Ohio Historical Society]]'s Bradley T. Lepper) reopened a trench created by [[Frederic Ward Putnam]] of [[Harvard]] over 100 years before. They found a few pieces of [[charcoal]] in what was believed to be an undisturbed portion of the Serpent Mound. However, [[bioturbation]], including [[burrow]]s, [[frost crack]]s, etc., can reverse the [[Structuralism|structural timeline]] of an earthen mound such as Serpent Mound. It can shift carbon left by a later culture on the surface to areas deep within the structure, making the earthwork appear younger. When the team conducted [[Radiocarbon dating|carbon dating]] studies on the charcoal pieces, two yielded a date of ca. 1070 CE, with the third piece dating to the [[Late Archaic]] period some two thousand years earlier, specifically 2920+/-65 years BP (before the present). The third date, ca. 2900 BP, was recovered from a core sample below cultural modification level. The first two dates place the Serpent Mound within the realm of the Fort Ancient culture. The third dates the mound back to very early Adena culture or before.<ref name="ReferenceA2">"Serpent Mound: A Fort Ancient Icon?", ''Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology'', Vol. 21, No.1, University of Iowa, 1996</ref> The Fort Ancient people contributed to maintaining and refurbishing The Great Serpent Mound though were not responsible for its creation. The [[rattlesnake]] is significant as a [[Southeastern Ceremonial Complex#Great Serpent|symbol in the Mississippian culture]], helping us to understand the significance of the mound's shape. When attempting to identify the species of snake, there is no sign or indication of a rattle.<ref name="ReferenceA2" /> Very few, if any, artifacts from The Fort Ancient people can be found at the site of The Great Serpent Mound. As just like the Adena people, the Fort Ancient Culture often buried artifacts in its mounds. Along with a lack of artifacts found, the Fort Ancient people were not known to bury their dead in the same manner as the Adena culture, especially in proximity to the [[effigy]].<ref name="ReferenceA2" /> Another [[effigy mound]] found in Ohio, the [[Alligator Effigy Mound]] in [[Granville, Ohio|Granville]], was carbon dated to the Fort Ancient period. == Meaning of the mound == [[File:Serpent mound 8438.jpg|thumb|The curvature of the Serpent Mound]] Having been built around 1070 CE, many archaeologists believe that the mound's creation could have been influenced by two different astronomical events: the light from the [[supernova]] that created the [[Crab Nebula]] in the year 1054 CE and the appearance of [[Halley's Comet]] in 1066 CE The light of the supernova would have been visible for two weeks after it first reached earth, which could even be seen in broad day light. As a secondary theory, archaeologists assumed that the tail of Halley's Comet could have influenced the shape of the mound. Though the tail of the comet has always appeared as a long, straight line that does not resemble the curves of the Serpent Mound. Numerous other supernovas may have occurred over the centuries that span the possible construction dates of the effigy, though these two influences remain the most prominent theories. The mound is located on the site of a classic [[astrobleme]], an ancient meteorite [[impact structure]]. When attempting to understand the impact origin of this structure, the pattern of disruption of [[Sedimentary rock|sedimentary]] [[Stratum|strata]] has provided archaeologists with a lot of information. In the center of the structure, strata have been uplifted several hundred feet, resembling the central uplifts of lunar craters of the [[Copernicus (lunar crater)|Copernicus]]. In 2003 geologists from [[Ohio State University]] and the [[University of Glasgow]] (Scotland) corroborated the meteorite impact origin of the structure at The Serpent Mound. They had previously studied core samples collected at the site in the 1970s, providing them with a background of information pertaining to the site. Further analyses of the rock core samples indicated that the impact occurred during the [[Permian]] Period, about 248 to 286 million years ago. This has led archaeologists to believe that the topographic expression of this impact or the [[impact crater]], has been completely erased by [[erosion]]. In 1987, Clark and Marjorie Hardman published their finding that the oval-to-head area of the serpent is aligned to the summer [[solstice]] sunset. A depiction of the serpent mound appeared in ''The Century'' periodical in April 1890, drawn by [[William Jacob Baer]]. According to archaeologist Brad Lepper, Serpent Mound may be a depiction of a Dhegihan Siouan origin story of the Great Serpent "Toothy Mouth”, lord of the Beneath World, who impregnated the First Woman <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/technology/2018/02/11/archaeology-serpent-mound-might-depict/14828999007/ | title=Archaeology: Serpent Mound might depict a creation story }}</ref> In a recent 2022 Netflix documentary: Ancient Apocalypse, followed by Graham Hancock; exploring the possibility that certain ancient archeology sites are in fact much older than mainstream archeology says. Hancock explores the idea that the Great Serpent Mound was created at the end of the Last Ice Age (during the Younger Dryas period), by an advanced civilization. Hancock informs the audience that the current alignment of the mouth opening of the Great Serpent Mound in 2022 is about 2° degrees off from perfect alignment during the Summer solstice; but informs the audience that if the Great Serpent Mound was constructed during the Younger Dryas period, it would have been a perfect alignment. Which begs the question, why would a culture go through immense work to build this effigy, for it to be slightly off? Hancock was denied entry into the Great Serpent Mound over mixed views between both parties. == Preservation == [[File:Serpent Mound - The Century.gif|thumb|265x265px|A depiction of the Serpent Mound that appeared in ''The Century'' periodical in April 1890, drawn by [[William Jacob Baer]].]] ''Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley'' fascinated many across the country, including [[Frederic Ward Putnam]] of the [[Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology]] at [[Harvard University]]. Putnam spent much of his career lecturing and publishing on the Ohio mounds, specifically the Serpent Mound. When he visited the Midwest in 1885, he found that plowing and development were destroying many of the mounds, removing significant history of these cultures and their burial sites. In 1886, with help from a group of wealthy women in [[Boston]], such as [[Glass Flowers|The Glass Flowers]]' patroness [[Mary Lee Ware]], Putnam raised funds to purchase 60 acres (240,000&nbsp;m²) at the site of The Serpent Mound in hopes to ensure its preservation. Along with The Serpent Mound, the purchase also contained three conical mounds as well as a village site and burial place. The Serpent Mound is now listed as a "Great Wonder of the Ancient World" by ''National Geographic Magazine''. The mound was originally purchased on behalf of the Trustees of the Peabody Museum. In 1900, the land and its ownership were granted to the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society (a predecessor of the present [[Ohio Historical Society]]). The [[Ohio Historical Society]] has designated the Arc of Appalachia Preserves system, a project of [[Highlands Sanctuary]], Inc., as the managing agency of Serpent Mound from 2010 until March 2021. In March 2021, The Ohio History Connection took back active management of the site. Following an instance of vandalism in 2015, more security cameras and protective gates were added to ensure the protection of the site and surrounding area. === Excavation === [[File:Adena SerpMd gorget points HRoe 2009.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Gorget]]s and points from the [[Adena culture]], found at the Serpent Mound]][[File:Hopewell SerpMd pipe points earspool HRoe 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|Hopewell pipe, points, and earspool on display at the Serpent Mound]]During excavation of The Serpent Mound archaeologists uncovered pipes, points, and earspool from the Hopewell culture as well as [[Gorget]]s and points from the [[Adena culture]]. After raising sufficient funds, Putnam returned to the same site in 1886. He worked for four years to excavate the burial sequence contents of both The Serpent Mound and two nearby conical mounds. After completing his excavation and publishing his work, Putnam worked on restoring the mounds to their original state. One of the conical mounds that was excavated by Putnam in 1890 yielded several artifacts of a principal burial hosted by during the period of the Adena people. Along with these findings, Putnam found and excavated nine intrusive burials in the mound through his discovery of an ash bed containing many prehistoric artifacts, north of the conical mound. After the excavation, the conical mound was reconstructed and currently stands just south of the parking lot at The Serpent Mound State Memorial.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Schwarz |first=Kevin |title=Long Shadows Over the Valley: Recent Findings from ASC Group's Excavations at Serpent Mound State Memor. |url=https://www.academia.edu/6699348}}</ref> In 2011, archaeologists took the opportunity to excavate the property prior to installation of utility lines at The Serpent Mound State Memorial. The excavations focused on three sides of the conical mound which had previously been excavated by Putnam in 1890. In addition to these concentrations of artifacts, an ashy soil horizon was excavated north of the conical mound, where archaeologists were able to uncover many prehistoric artifacts. It is believed that the ashy deposit of charcoal is the remainder of a Fort Ancient Culture ash bed. The wood charcoal from within the remnant bed was carbon dated back to the time of the Fort Ancient Culture, between the years of 1041 CE and 1211 CE Given the results found through carbon dating, burials in the conical mound dated to the Early Woodland and Fort Ancient periods, suggestive of ritual reuse of the circum mound area and ash bed.<ref name=":1" /> === Serpent Mound Museum === {{Main|Ohio Historical Society}} [[File:Serpent Mound.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Digital [[Geographic information system|Geographic Information System]] Map of the Serpent Mound]] In 1901, the Ohio Historical Society hired engineer, Clinton Cowan, to survey newly acquired lands. Cowan created a 56 by 72-inch (1,800&nbsp;mm) map that depicted the outline of The Serpent Mound in relation to nearby landmarks, such as hills and rivers. Along with this, Cowan made specific geographical surveys of the area, discovering a unique astrobleme on which the mound is based. He found that the mound is at the convergence of three distinctly different soil types. Cowan's information, in conjunction with Putnam's archaeological discoveries, has been the basis for all modern investigations of The Serpent Mound. Furthermore, a digital [[GIS]] map of Ohio's Great Serpent Mound was created by Timothy A. Price and Nichole I. Stump in March 2002. In 1967, The Ohio Historical Society opened The Serpent Mound Museum, built very close to the site of the mound. A pathway was constructed around the base of the mound, guiding visitors through and around the site. The museum features exhibits that include explanations of the effigy's form, description of the constructing of the mound and the geographical history of the area. The museum also features an exhibit on the Adena culture, which they historically credited as the creators of the mound. Serpent Mound State Memorial is currently being operated on behalf of the Ohio Historical Society by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. It is a non-profit organization that specializes in the preservation and protection of native [[biodiversity]] and prehistoric [[Indigenous peoples|aboriginal]] sites in southern Ohio. == See also == * [[Cahokia]] * [[Crooks Mound]] * [[Glades culture]] * [[Indian Mounds Park (disambiguation)|Indian Mounds Park]] * [[Mound Builders]] * [[Nazca Lines]] * [[Spiro Mounds]] * [[Marree Man]] == References == {{reflist}} == Further reading == * Fletcher, Robert V., Terry L. Cameron, Bradley T. Lepper, Dee Anne Wymer, and William Pickard, "Serpent Mound: A Fort Ancient Icon?", ''Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology'', Vol 21, No. 1, Spring 1996, University of Iowa. *Putnam, Frederic Ward, "The Serpent Mound of Ohio: Site Excavation and Park Reconstruction.", ''Century Magazine'' Vol 39: 871–888. Illustrations by William Jacob Baer. * Squier, Ephraim G. and Edwin H. Davis, ''[[Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley]]'', Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1998. Reprint of 1848 edition with a new introduction by David J. Meltzer. *Weintraub, Daniel and Kevin R. Schwarz, "Long Shadows Over the Valley: Recent Findings from ASC Group's Excavations at Serpent Mound State Memorial", ''Current Research in Ohio Archaeology'' 2013. The Ohio Archaeological Council. * Woodward, Susan L. and Jerry N. McDonald, ''Indian Mounds of the Middle Ohio Valley'', Blacksburg, Virginia: The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, 1986 == External links == {{Commons category}} * [https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/serpent-mound Serpent Mound], Ohio Historical Society * [http://arcofappalachia.org/serpent-mound/ Arc of Appalachia: Serpent Mound] * [http://www.nps.gov/hocu/ "Hopewell culture National Historical Park"], National Park Service * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040113195022/http://www.ohiohistoryteachers.org/03/04/sw07.shtml Ohio History Teachers – Field Trips: Serpent Mound] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040813224500/http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/northamerica/serpent.html "Archaeological Sites: Serpent Mound"], Minnesota State University Mankato * [http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2223 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society] * [http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110329/NEWS01/103300319/Scientists-try-unlock-Serpent-Mound-secrets?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Scientists try to unlock Serpent Mound secrets] {{Fort Ancient culture}} {{Pre-Columbian North America}} {{Registered Historic Places}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Fort Ancient culture]] [[Category:Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio]] [[Category:Archaeological sites in Ohio]] [[Category:Pre-statehood history of Ohio]] [[Category:Museums in Adams County, Ohio]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Adams County, Ohio]] [[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Ohio]] [[Category:Archaeological museums in Ohio]] [[Category:Ohio History Connection]] [[Category:History museums in Ohio]] [[Category:Snakes]] [[Category:Protected areas of Adams County, Ohio]] [[Category:Parks in Ohio]] [[Category:Geoglyphs]] [[Category:Mounds in Ohio]] [[Category:World Heritage Tentative List]]'