Ohio's Adena Timber Rattler Effigy Mound: Fort Hill

Ohio's Adena Timber Rattler Effigy Mound: Fort Hill

A few years ago when I was exploring sites for "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley," I was going to the top of Fort Hill on a warm mid-April day when ahead of me, crossing the trail was a huge timber rattler. The color of the snake had deep yellow tones, much lock the stones that made up the serpentine walls of Fort Hill. There is little doubt that the northern entrance to the earthwork was intended to be an effigy of two serpent heads.

A closer look at the gateway that was intended to represent two serpent heads.

This is a picture of the serpentine earthwork, called the Adena, Pollock works that was being hacked into by the University of Cincinnati.  The stones are limestone that was also used at Fort Hill.

The stone walls at Fort Hill undulate like a great serpent.  Now, I think we can assume that the serpent that was being emulated was the Timber Rattler by the Adena mound builders.

 There are four more hilltop serpentine effigies in Ohio: Get Directions Here!