Butler County, Ohio Reily Cemetery Mound

Butler County, Ohio Reily Cemetery Mound

The position of this mound is on an upland terrace next to a small creek called Little Indian that is a tributary to the Miami River. Reily Cemetery located in the town of Reily, Ohio.  

he Mound Builders, Archaeology of Butler County, Ohio, 1879:

On a hill west of the village of Reily, and near the cemetery, on section twenty-one, located in the woods on the farm of P. Wunder, is a mound ten feet high by fifty feet diameter. Many years ago this was dug into, and many earthen vessels taken from it. An oak tree of considerable size is growing on the side of the mound.

Demoret Adena Burial Mound in Butler County, Ohio

Demoret Adena Burial Mound in Butler County, Ohio

The largest mound of this group must have been destroyed at some time, leaving this smaller mound of the group as the only one to survive the urban sprawl. It is situated next to a new home, however it has been left with thick underbrush and trees growing on it that make it difficult to see.

The Mound Builders, Archaeology of Butler County, Ohio, 1879:

On the farms of William Hogan and Charles Borger, section twenty-one, is group of mounds, six in number. A plan of these given in Fig. 56.

The largest is twenty-six feet high with a base eighty feet in diameter. The rest vary in height, ranging from three to eight feet. The illustration gives the relative sizes, positions and distances of the mounds composing the group. The group is situated on the highest point of land in the township, and from the summit of the largest mound a view of the surrounding country can be obtained. To the east, if the forest trees did not intervene, the city of Hamilton could be seen; while to the south it overlooks the Colerain Hills.

  Mr. L. Demoret looked up the history of and the stories concerning this mound, and writes as follows:

“About the year 1820 this mound was opened by a man named Young, assisted by the Keever brothers, in hopes of finding a treasure chest. They worked only during the hours of darkness, and in perfect silence, in the belief that the chest never could never be reached if a word was spoken while at work. A story was started, and believed by many, that the chest was finally discovered, when one of the diggers exclaimed: ‘I’ve got it at last!’ whereupon it slipped from his fingers and vanished, leaving a smell of brimstone in the air.

“The tunnel was started on the north side, about half way up the slope, and ran downwards at an angle of thirty-five degrees, for a distance of thirty feet, when the center was reached, from which point it was carried eastwardly several feet. It was stated at the time that the center of the mound gave the appearance of having been once a hut formed of leaning timbers to sustain the great weight of earth. Within this vault were found a stone back-wall, coals and ashes, and human bones.”

Butler County, Ohio Archaeological Map Detailing the Ancient Mounds and Earthworks

Butler County, Ohio Archaeological Map Detailing the Ancient Mounds and Earthworks

The Great Mound in Butler County with the middle of the structure removed by the Ohio Historical Society, giving it the appearance of having two peaks.

Let us bring figures to bear upon this question of labor. The largest mound in Butler county, is in Madison township. " Its altitude is forty-three feet with a circular base of five hundred and eleven feet. The hypothenuse is eighty-eight feet, the contents being eight hundred and twenty-four thousand four hundred and eighty cubic feet. At twenty-two cubic feet per load, this would give thirty-seven thousand four hundred and seventy-six wagon loads, which allowing ten loads per day, would take one man twelve years (not including Sundays) to remove the mound say a distance of one mile. — (Dr. J. B. Owsley.)" —McLean, 224.

An archaeological map showing the locations of burial mounds and earthworks in Butler County, Ohio

This large mound was once encircled by smaller mounds.  Like most of the 2500 year old antiquities of Butler county, this is left overgrown and does not even warrant a historical marker.

The largest Adena stone mound in Ohio is located in Butler County, near Jacksonburg.  This ancient site also does not warrant any kind of historical marker.

Adena burial mound located within a cemetery in Butler County, Ohio.  Only if the burial mounds can be purchased and cared for by private enterprise is there any hope of preservation of these antiquities. Any mound or earthwork that ends up under the protection of the Ohio Historical Society will soon be handed over to university grave robbers for complete destruction.

Butler County, Ohio townships and the number of mounds located in each

Two enclosures located in Butler County, Ohio.  The earthworks depicted on top is a Serpent Mound, with two heads of the Serpent facing a central sun disc.

One of Ohio's most enigmatic serpentine works is still visible within Rentschler Forest Preserve in Butler County, Ohio.

The embankments of the two serpent effigy mounds are still clearly visible along with the circular work that represents the sun disc or egg.

Another Serpentine works located in Butler County, Ohio

Fort Hill in Butler County, Ohio


Fortified Hill " in Butler county, shown in figure 69 (S. & D., 16, plate VI) is "on the west side of the Great Miami River, three miles below the town of Hamilton. * * * The hill, the summit of which it occupies, is about half a mile distant from the present bed of the river, and is not far from two hundred and fifty feet high, being considerably more elevated than any other in the vicinity. It is surrounded at all points, except a narrow space at the north, by deep ravines, presenting steep and almost inaccessible declivities. The descent toward the north is gradual; and from that direction the hill is easy of access. * * * Skirting the brow of the hill, and generally conforming to its outline, is a wall of mingled earth and stone, having an average height of five feet by thirty- five feet base. It has no accompanying ditch ; the earth composing it, which is a stiff clay, having been for the most part taken up from the surface, without leaving any marked excavation. There are a number of 'dug holes,' however, at various points, from which it is evident a portion of the material was obtained. The wall is interrupted by four gateways or passages, each twenty feet wide ; one opening to the north, one on the approach above mentioned, and the others occurring where the spurs of the hill are cut off by the parapet, and where the declivity is least abrupt. They are all, with one exception, protected by inner lines of embankment, of a most singular and intricate description. The The stone mounds, S. and W., are each about eight feet high. The mound at the north contained a quantity of stone which seemed to have been burned. " The ground in the interior of this work gradually rises, as indi cated in the section, to the height of twenty-six feet above the base of the wall, and overlooks the entire adjacent country." — S. & D., 16.

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Colossus Adena Burial Mound in Butler County, Ohio

Colossus Adena Burial Mound in Butler County, Ohio

Photo from "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley." What appears to be two peaks of the mound is the result of the Ohio Historical Societies' archaeological digs. It is never the practice of archaeologists to restore burial mounds after excavating them Get directions to this site and 32 other large burial mounds in Ohio.  Here's a sneak peek from "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley" 

    From the "History of Butler County, Ohio"

The Great Mound of Butler County from rth.

One of Ohio's largest Adena Burial mounds as seen from Google Earth.  

If you travel to the mound in the summer months, this is what you will see.  The state of Ohio puts little or no value on the remnants of one of the worlds most prestigious ancient cultures. The largest remaining stone burial mound in Ohio is only a few miles from this site that is equally neglected.

Ancient Adena Hopewell Earthwork Near Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio

Ancient Adena Hopewell Earthwork Near Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio

      Among the works remarkable as possessing double walls, is the one here presented. It is situated on the Great Miami river, four miles south-west of the town of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio. The plan obviates the necessity of a detailed description. The outer line of defence consists of a simple embankment five feet high, with an exterior ditch four feet deep. It has a single gateway fifteen feet wide. There are apparent gateways at a a, but the ditch only is interrupted.

Interior to this line of embankment, is another of less dimensions, having also but one opening. At b is a large broad mound, over which, and somewhat below the summit on the outer side, the inner line of embankment is carried. The ditch also continues uninterruptedly over the mound, which is thirty feet high. From its summit, a view of the entire work and surrounding country is commanded. Another mound, ten feet high, occurs at the point indicated in the plan. It is composed of stone and gravel, apparently taken from the river, and probably belongs to the class of mounds denominated "sacrificial,"—the characteristics of which are explained in another chapter. At c, the outer wall appears to have formerly extended down to a lower level; but it has been much obliterated by the washing of the bank. The natural banks, on the side towards the river and next to Big Run, are inaccessibly steep, and between sixty and seventy feet high.

The area, embraced within the exterior lines, is a trifle less than eighteen acres. The defensive character of this work can hardly be doubted. It has been suggested that the large mound, over which the inner wall is carried, was designed as a look-out, or alarm post. This may not have been its primary, but it is not impossible that such was its secondary purpose.

Just tap the book to discover photos, histories and directions to 222 Adena Hopewell Burial Mounds and Earthworks

Ancient Adena Hopewell Earthwork in Butler County, Ohio

 Ancient Adena Hopewell Earthwork in Butler County, Ohio

It occurs in Oxford township, Butler county, Ohio (Lot 6, Sec. 31, Tp. 5, Range 2, E. M.), at a point on Four Mile creek, where that stream forms a remarkable bend, constituting a peninsula one thousand and sixty feet across at its neck, and one thousand three hundred and twenty feet deep. This peninsula is, in fact, a bold head-land, with precipitous banks, rising sixty feet above the water in the creek, and overlooking the low bottoms that surround it. Across the neck of this peninsula is carried a crescent-shaped wall with an outer ditch. The wall is now but little over three feet in height, and the ditch of corresponding depth. Formerly it was much higher, precluding cultivation. It has been reduced by the present occupant, who has ploughed along it longitudinally, throwing the furrows into the ditch,—a common practice, which is fast reducing and obliterating these interesting monuments of antiquity. A single gateway twenty feet wide leads into the enclosure, which has an area of twenty acres. A terrace, apparently artificial, and thirty feet wide, occurs on the northern bank, at about midway from the water to the top. It may be a natural feature, and caused by the subsidence of the bank from the undermining of the stream. The creek, at one time, unquestionably ran close under the banks of the peninsula; whether or not the recession, leaving the intervening low bottom, B, took place subsequently to the erection of the work, it is of course impossible to determine.

In this work will be remarked the lapping round of the parapet, on the natural bank of the stream at b,—a feature heretofore mentioned, as probably designed to protect the flank of the defence.

Just click the book to discover 222 photos and directions of ancient Adena Hopewell mounds and earthworks

Ohio Mounds: Earthwork in Butler County, Ohio

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      This  highly interesting work is situated in Butler county, Ohio, on the banks of Seven Mile creek, five miles north of the town of Hamilton. It is formed by two irregular lines of embankment, and an exterior ditch, cutting off a jutting point of the second terrace; and has an area of twenty-five acres. These embankments are parallel throughout, and were evidently both made from the same ditch. The outer one has an average height of four, the inner one of three feet. The ditch is between five and six feet deep, by thirty-five feet wide. At the southern portion of the work, both walls and the ditch have their greatest dimensions. The side of the work next the stream is bounded by an abrupt natural bank, eighteen feet high. Distant a few rods from the north-eastern angle of the work, is an elliptical mound eleven feet high; its conjugate and transverse diameters are ninety-two and one hundred and eighteen feet respectively.

      This work has a single gateway thirty feet wide. The inner wall, near its southern extremity, curves inward along the terrace-bank for a considerable distance. The first, or creek terrace, is a low alluvion, not subject to overflow. It is evident, however, that the creek once ran at the base of the natural bank (now bounding one side of this work), probably at the period of its construction and occupancy.

Ohio's Best Kept Prehistoric Secrets The Adena Hopewell Serpent Earthwork in Butler County, Ohio

Ohio's Best Kept Prehistoric Secrets: The Adena Hopewell Serpent Earthwork in Butler County, Ohio

 This is one of the best preserved sites in Ohio that is free to explore.  Another Hilltop enclosure is that is also serpentine in form is only a few miles distant.

       

    This work occurs on the bank of the Great Miami river, four miles above the town of Hamilton, in Butler county, Ohio, and is one of the most interesting hill-works known. It corresponds in all essential particulars with those of the same class already described. It occupies the summit of a promontory cut from the table lands bordering the Miami river, which upon three sides presents high and steep natural banks, rendered more secure for purposes of defence by artificial embankments thrown up along their brows. The remaining side is defended by a wall and ditch, and it is from this side only that the work is easy of approach. The walls are low, measuring at this time but about four feet in height. The area enclosed is level, subsiding somewhat towards the north, so as to form a sort of natural terrace along the river. Previous to the construction of the Miami canal, this terrace was eight or ten rods wide, having a perpendicular bank next the river, some fifty or more feet high. Upon this terrace are situated several small mounds. The point indicated by c in the plan is the most elevated within the enclosure. The ground here was intermixed with large stones, most of which were removed in building the canal. Among them, it is said, were found several human skeletons, and also a variety of carved stone implements.

    The most interesting feature in connection with this work is the entrance on the south, of which the enlarged plan can alone afford a fair conception. The ends of the wall curve inwardly as they approach each other, upon a radius of seventy-five feet, forming a true circle, interrupted only by the gateways. Within the space thus formed, is a small circle one hundred feet in diameter; outside of which and covering the gateway is a mound, e, forty feet in diameter and five feet high. The passage between the mound and the embankment, and between the walls of the circles, is now about six feet wide. The gateway or opening d is twenty feet wide. This singular entrance, it will be remarked, strongly resembles the gateways belonging. to a work already described, although much more regular in its construction.

    The ditches, f f, which accompany the wall on the south, subside into the ravines upon either side. These ravines are not far from sixty feet deep, and have precipitous sides, rendering ascent almost impossible. The mound h is three feet high.

The area of the work is seventeen acres; the whole of which is yet covered with a dense primitive forest. The valley beyond the river is broad, and in it are many traces of a remote population, of which this work was probably the fortress or place of last resort, during turbulent periods.

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Ohio Mounds: Hilltop Enclosure in Butler County, Ohio

Adena Hopewell Hilltop Enclosure Icwerlooking the Great Miami River in Butler County, Ohio

     This fine work is situated in Butler county, Ohio, on the west side of the Great Miami river, three miles below the town of Hamilton. The plan is from a survey by James McBride, Esq., and the description is made up from his notes. The hill, the summit of which it occupies, is about a half mile distant from the present bed of the river, and is not far from two hundred and fifty feet high, being considerably more elevated than any other in the vicinity. It is surrounded at all points, except a narrow space at the north, by deep ravines, presenting steep and almost inaccessible declivities. The descent towards the north is gradual; and from that direction, the hill is easy of access. It is covered with a primitive forest of oak, hickory, and locust, of the same character with the surrounding forests.

      Skirting the brow of the hill, and generally conforming to its outline, is a wall of mingled earth and stone, having an average height of five feet by thirty-five feet base. It has no accompanying ditch; the earth composing it, which is a stiff clay, having been for the most part taken up from the surface, without leaving any marked excavation. There are a number of "dug holes," however, at various points, from which it is evident a portion of the material was obtained. The wall is interrupted by four gateways or passages, each twenty feet wide; one opening to the north, on the approach above mentioned, and the others occurring where the spurs of the hill are cut off by the parapet, and where the declivity is least abrupt. They are all, with one exception, protected by inner lines of embankment, of a most singular and intricate description. These are accurately delineated in the plan, which will best explain their character. It will be observed that the northern gateway, in addition to its inner maze of walls, has an exterior work of a crescent shape, the ends of which approach to within a few feet of the brow of the hill.

    The excavations are uniformly near the gateways, or within the lines covering them. None of them are more than sixty feet over, nor have they any considerable depth. Nevertheless, they all, with the exception of the one nearest to gateway S, contain water for the greater portion, if not the whole of the year. A pole may be thrust eight or ten feet into the soft mud, at the bottom of those at E.

At  and W, terminating the parapet, are two mounds, each eight feet high, composed of stones thrown loosely together. Thirty rods distant from gateway N, and exterior to the work, is a mound ten feet high, on which trees of the largest size are growing. It was partially excavated a number of years ago, and a quantity of stones taken out, all of which seemed to have undergone the action of fire. The ground in the interior of this work gradually rises, as indicated in the section, to the height of twenty-six feet above the base of the wall, and overlooks the entire adjacent country.

In the vicinity of this work, are a number of others occupying the valley; no less than six of large size occur within a distance of six miles down the river.This work is marked A on the map.]

The character of this structure is too obvious to admit of doubt. The position which it occupies is naturally strong, and no mean degree of skill is employed in its artificial defences. Every avenue is strongly guarded. The principal approach, the only point easy of access, or capable of successful assault, is rendered doubly secure. A mound, used perhaps as an alarm post, is placed at about one-fourth of the distance down the ascent; a crescent wall crosses the isthmus, leaving but narrow passages between its ends and the steeps on either hand. Next comes the principal wall of the enclosure. In event of an attack, even though both these defences were carried, there still remains a series of walls so complicated as inevitably to distract and bewilder the assailants, thus giving a marked advantage to the defenders. This advantage may have been much greater than we, in our ignorance of the military system of this ancient people, can understand. But, from the manifest judgment with which their defensive positions were chosen, as well as from the character of their entrenchments, so far as we comprehend them, it is safe to conclude that all parts of this work were the best calculated to secure the objects proposed by the builders, under the modes of attack and defence then practised.

    The coincidences between the guarded entrances of this and similar works throughout the West, and those of the Mexican defences, is singularly striking. The wall on the eastern side of the Tlascalan territories, mentioned by Cortez and Bernal Diaz, was six miles long, having a single entrance thirty feet wide, which was formed in the manner represented in the supplementary plan A. The ends of the wall overlapped each other, in the form of semicircles, having a common centre