Ross County, Ohio's Lost Nephilim Sun Temple

Ross County, Ohio's Lost Nephilim Sun Temple

Sun Temple or Henge located on the North Fork of Paint Creek in Ross County, Ohio is clearly seen in this early 1990s aerial photo.To see all of the visible burial mounds and earthworks in Ross County, Ohio

A wider view shows Paint Creek to the south where the North Fork Henge site was located.

Over 100 Adena Hopewell Burial Mound and Earthworks Photographed

North Fork of Paint Creek Henge Group in Ross County, Ohio

North Fork of Paint Creek Henge Group in Ross County, Ohio

Two large circular Adena earthworks called, Henges have been discovered near the mouth of the North Fork of Paint Creek.  The earthworks could date as early as 500 B.C.  They are located just to the north of the North Fork Earthworks that have recently been purchased.

Two large circular Adena earthworks called, Henges have been discovered near the mouth of the North Fork of Paint Creek.  The earthworks could date as early as 500 B.C.  They are marked on this map as "North Fork Henge."  The Henge group south of these is called the Junction Group Earthworks and have recently been purchased.

Adena Hopewell Earthwork Complex called the Junction Group included two henges that were 660 feet in circumference.

1930s aerial photo shows the two 660 foot henges of the Junction Group.

The North Fork Henge located to the North of the Junction Group is clearly visible in this aerial photo from 1993. 

Chillicothe, Ohio's Largest Burial Mound

Chillicothe, Ohio's Largest Burial Mounds is Hidden From the Public

Going to Ohio to visit the ancient burial mounds and earthworks? Just know, many of the largest burial mound locations are kept secret by the Ohio Historical Society. These mounds are listed as "address restricted." It is YOU that they are restricting from knowing where they are. Since the publication of "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley," these restrictions have been lifted, with direction to ALL of Ohio's ancient sites provided. For a sneak peek of 32 of the largest burial mounds in Ohio (25 are Address Restricted) follow this link 

One of Ohio's largest burial mounds is located to the north of Chillicothe, Ohio.

    
Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol. VII, 1900
   The Austin Brown mound is one of the largest in the state. 'It stands thirty—eight feet high having a base of one hundred and sixty—five feet and is located near Brown Chapel in Scioto township (Ross County). It lies upon the second terrace of the Scioto and is made up of a rich, brown clay containing not a pebble or stone. “We went up the side thirty-four feet from the edge and sunk a shaft on the east side. It was ten feet down to the baseline at this point. We then started a large tunnel and worked in under from this point. We soon struck quantities of rotten timbers or logs and a heavy decay line. We found a fine rotary arrowhead. There were many soft spots of black earth. Twenty feet from the mouth of the tunnel we struck a log ten inches in diameter running north and south. “From indications, I think that at the time of building this mound they felled the trees and covered them up without clearing. “We sent several 'side tunnels. When the main tunnel passed the

Directions to Over 100 of Ohio's Burial Mounds and Earthworks

Serpentine Stone Enclosure at Spruce Hill in Ross County, Ohio

Serpentine Stone Enclosure at Spruce Hill in Ross County, Ohio

Serpentine stone work is located on the lowland at the bottom of the hill where Spruce Hill is located. Numerous henge type earthworks are located around Chillicothe that were also 250 feet in diameter. The length of 250 was used by the later Adena Hopewell to represent the Sun deity.

There were several of these clusters of earthworks around Chillicothe, Ohio that were 250 in circumference.  

     A unique work is situated in the little valley of "Black run," a small tributary of Paint creek, and is distant about fifteen miles from Chillicothe. It is indicated by the letter E.  The walls are composed of stones; but if ever regularly laid up, they are now thrown down, though not greatly scattered. The outlines are clearly defined, and can be exactly traced. The body of the work is elliptical in shape, its conjugate diameter being one hundred and seventy feet, its transverse two hundred and fifty feet. There is a single opening or gateway, fifty feet wide, on the south, where the walls curve outwards and lap back upon themselves for the space of sixty feet. The most remarkable feature of this singular work consists of five walls, starting within ten feet of the unbroken line of the elliptical enclosure, and extending thence northward, slightly converging, for the distance of one hundred feet. The lines of the outer walls, if prolonged, would intersect each other at the distance of two hundred and fifty feet. These walls are twenty feet broad at the ends nearest the enclosure, and ten feet apart. They diminish gradually, as they recede, to ten feet at their outer extremities. The western wall is nearly obliterated; the stones for the construction of all the "cabin" hearths and chimneys in the neighborhood having been taken from this spot. The western portion of the wall of the ellipse has also suffered from the same cause. The amount of stone embraced in the outer walls is considerable, probably sufficient to construct walls of equal length, six feet broad and eight feet high. They now exhibit but slight evidence of ever having been regularly laid up, and more resemble mounds of stones rudely thrown together. The stones have been removed from a section of the central wall, to the base; but we have been unable to ascertain that the operation disclosed relics of any kind. The wall of the body of the work appears considerably lighter than those last mentioned, and it is now quite impossible to determine whether it was ever regularly constructed. The stones cover a space fifteen or twenty feet broad, and are irregularly heaped together to the height of perhaps three feet. The work is overgrown with briers, bushes, and trees; which, when in leaf, completely hide its features from view, and render a satisfactory examination impossible. In the autumn or spring, the entire outline of the work is distinctly visible.

The purposes of this strange work are entirely inexplicable: its small size precludes the idea of a defensive origin. It is the only structure of the kind which has yet been discovered in the valleys, and it is totally unlike those found on the hills. The great "Stone Fort" on Paint creek is but two miles distant, and overlooks this work; both may be regarded as belonging to the same era, and as probably in some way connected with each other.

Curious Ancient Stone Works Described Near Bournville, Ohio

Ancient Works in Ross County, Ohio

About four miles southeast of the village of Bourneville, on  what is called Black run, a       branch of Paint creek, are two quite  curious fortifications. The first, a stone wall, incloses about one acre of ground; the wall is three or four feet high and  forms almost a square,    with inner walls, forming partitions as it were; the walls have been much higher from          appearances.  The second works are situated about two hundred yards south, and are          thrown up in a perfect circle, with stone, about six feet high and three hundred feet in         circumference ; nearly half of the wall has been washed away by the creek. On the inside of this circle, and in the center, is quite a mound thrown up of stone, which is nearly one        thousand feet in circumference, and is eight or ten feet in height, with a large white walnut growing immediately on the top- Near Mr. Aaron Vanscoy's, on Indian creek, at the head  of a branch, is quite a mound of stone near where an old Indian trail used to pass; the       mound is several feet in hight. There is a story connected with this mound which says:        Several years ago some brave young men concluded they would explore the mound and ascertain what was buried within it. They went to work and commenced to tear away the         stones. After they had worked some time, all at once it commenced blowing, thundering,   and lightning at a tremendous rate, when they became frightened and ran for their lives. 

Early Description of Mound City in Chillocthe, Ohio

Early Description of Mound City in Chillocthe, Ohio

American Anthropologist 1922

Their summary description of the group, from Ancient Monu- 
ments of the Mississippi Valley (Smithsonian Institution, 1848) 
is as follows: 

Situated on the left bank of the Scioto River, four miles north of the 
town of Chillicothe. The enclosure, designated from the great number of 
mounds within its walls, "Mound City,** is in many respects the most 
remarkable in the Scioto Valley. Through the generous kindness of Henry 
Shriver, Esq., upon whose estate it is situated, the mounds were all permitted 
to be investigated; and the work will, in consequence, be often referred to 
in the course of this volume, particularly when we come to speak 
of "mounds.*' 

Early photo of the burial mounds at Mound City before they were levelled. The reconstructed mounds today are only a fraction of their original size.

In outline it is nearly square, with rounded angles, and consists of a 
simple embankment, between three and four feet high, unaccompanied by 
a ditch. Its site is the beautiful level of the second terrace, and it is still 
covered with the primitive forest. 

The first and most striking feature in connection with this work is the 
unusual number of mounds which it contains. There are no less than twenty- 
four within its walls. All of these, as above observed, have been excavated, 
and the principal ones found to contain altars and other remains, which put 
it beyond question that they were places of sacrifice^ or of superstitious 
origin. 

These mounds seem placed generally without design in respect to each 
other, although there is a manifest dependence between those composing 
the central group, and between those numbered 4 and 5 and 12 and 13. 
From the principal mound numbered 7 in the plan, after the fall of the 
leaves, a full view of every part of the work and of its enclosed mounds is 
commanded. This mound is seventeen feet high with a broad base nearly 
one hundred feet in diameter. The long mound. No. 3, is one hundred and 
forty feet long by eighty wide at the base, and ten feet in average height. 
Broad and deep pits, from which the earth for the construction of the mounds 
was taken, surround the work. 

Recent Aspects or the Group 

At the time of the final exploration of Mound City, described 
in this report, the entire site was occupied by the United States 
army cantonment, Camp Sherman. Fig. 28 gives a view of it 
before this change had taken place. Incident to the construction 
of this great camp, the grading of streets and drilling-grounds and 
the erection of barracks and other buildings resulted in unavoid- 
able disturbance of the group. In a number of instances mounds 
were completely removed, the earth composing them being used 
for grading and filling and any specimens they may have con- 
tained thus lost, or scattered among workmen. Others of the 
mounds fared less disastrously, being disturbed in part only, 
while one at least — the great central mound of the group — 
suffered no damage whatever. 

Of the total of twenty-four mounds recorded by Squier and 
Davis, in the above description, only twelve — one-half the 
original number — could be located or identified by the present 
survey. Several of the smaller ones, it is known, had completely 
disappeared under many years of cultivation of the land, while 
the remainder had been obliterated in the construction of the 
cantonment. What these mounds may have contained in the 




Fig. 28.— View of Mound City Group before it was taken over by the U. S. 
Government. 

way of material evidence of their builders will never be known, 
and the only record of their existence is that of Squier and Davis. 
Mounds of which no trace remained are those numbered on their 
map as follows: 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22. 

The condition of the mounds remaining for final exploration 
was as follows: Mound No. 2, practically one-half entirely obliter- 
ated, the remaining portion being graded off to within 6 inches of 
its base; No. 3, the elongate mound of the central unit, disturbed 
by extensive ramifications of the camp plumbing system; Mound 
No. 7, intact, its removal having been forestalled by special 
intervention of the camp commander, at the solicitation of the 
Museum authorities; Mound No. 8, one-third graded off, to with- 
in a few inches of the base; Mounds Nos. 9 and 12, much dis- 
turbed by trenching for plumbing system; Mound No. 13, a part 
of one side graded off, disturbing the most important burial 
thereof; Mounds 15 and 17, very small structures, more or less 
disturbed by grading; Mound No. 18, about one-half graded 
down, but a considerable depth of soil left above the base; Mound 
No. 21, very low, slightly disturbed; and Mound No. 23, fully 
two-thirds removed, with no trace of floor remaining. 

8 foot Nephilim Giant Human Pulled from Ohio Burial Mound

Ancient American Mystery

Photo of the the burial mound in Ross County, Ohio that contained the 8 foot Nephilim skeleton. Hundreds of these historical accounts can be found in "The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley."  

The Washington Post, December 4, 1898

Dug Up a Skeleton Eight Feet Long

A remarkable prehistoric skeleton was unearthed the other day by Mr. R. A. Tomlinson on the bank of Owl Creek, a little stream near Londonderry, Ohio. Mr. Tomlinson was engaged digging into a gravel bed, and had penetrated about four feet below the surface when he discovered the bones.

The skeleton, which was excellently preserved, was lying at full length on the left side, with its left hand under it. When lifted up the hand was found to hold a dozen darts of the finest workmanship. But it was the size of the skeleton, which amazed those who saw it. When measured it was found to be only about an inch short of eight feet in length, and there can be no doubt that in life the man was fully eight feet in height and probably an inch more than that.

The bones were massive, showing that the man was a giant in strength as well as stature. The skull was a third larger than the human skull, and the lower jaw was abnormal in size and thickness. Hundreds of people have viewed the skeleton, and it will doubtless be preserved as a curiosity.

The Nephilim giant's tomb can still be seen today off of the road.  It is now much smaller after further digs by the Ohio Historical  Society.

Ohio Tourism: Off the Map Burial Mound Sites

Ohio Tourism: Off the Map Burial Mound Sites
Bainbridge Mound, Ross County, Ohio

Traveling to Mound City in Chillicothe, or the Seip Mound or Fort Hill?  These are the mounds that you will pass on the road and miss if you don't know where to look. I photographed 32 of the largest burial mounds in Ohio with 25 of them being "Address Restricted." For a sneak peek of these mounds that are featured in "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley." 

Nothing epitomizes the Indian burial mounds and earthworks in the State of Ohio like the Bainbridge mound, located only a few miles to the east of the Seip mound and earthwork.  The large Bainbridge Mound is located just before the S.R. 41

 O

Baum Geometric Earthwork Constructed by the Adena Hopewell Works in Ross County, Ohio

Baum Geometric Earthwork Constructed by the Adena Hopewell Works in Ross County, Ohio

      Work is situated on the right bank of Paint Creek, fourteen miles distant from Chillicothe. It is but another combination of the figures composing the work belonging to this series, just described; from which, in structure, it differs in no material respect, except that the walls are higher and heavier. It is one of the best preserved works in the valley; the only portion which is much injured being at that part of the great circle next the hill, where the flow of water has obliterated the wall for some distance. The gateways of the square are considerably wider than those of the other works,—being nearly seventy feet across. A large, square, truncated mound occurs at some distance to the north of this work. It is one hundred and twenty feet broad at the base, has an area fifty feet square on the top, and is fifteen feet high. Quantities of coarse, broken pottery are found on and around it. A deep pit, or dug hole, is near, denoting the spot whence the earth composing the mound was taken.

Your Guide To Hundreds of Adena Hopewell Sites

Adena Hopewell Enclosure in Ross County, Ohio called the Liberty Works

Adena Hopewell Earthwork in Ross County, OhioLIberty Works

     Work is a very fair type of a singular series occurring in the Scioto valley,—all of which have the same figures in combination, although occupying different positions with respect to each other, viz. a square and two circles. These figures are not only accurate squares and perfect circles, but are in most cases of corresponding dimensions,—that is to say, the sides of each of the squares are each ten hundred and eighty feet in length; and the diameter of each of the large and small circles, a fraction over seventeen hundred and eight hundred feet, respectively. Such were the results of surveys made at different times, the measurements of which correspond within a few feet. Although in the progress of investigation singular coincidences were observed between these works, yet there was at the time no suspicion of the identity which subsequent comparison has shown to exist.

       The first of the series here represented, is situated on the east bank of the Scioto river, and occupies the third bottom or terrace. The ground upon which it occurs is level. The walls of the entire work are unaccompanied by a ditch, and are slight, nowhere more than four feet in height. The embankment of the square is perceptibly heavier than that of the small circle, which is also heavier than that of the larger one. The square work measures ten hundred and eighty feet upon each side; and its walls are interrupted at the corners and at the middle of each side, by gateways thirty feet in width. The central gateways are each covered by a small mound, of about the same height with the embankment, and placed forty feet interior to it. The manner in which the circular works are connected with the square enclosure, and the relative position of each, are accurately shown in the plan, precluding the necessity of a long and intricate description. It will be observed, that while the wall of the larger circle is interrupted by numerous narrow gateways, that of the smaller one is entire throughout,—a feature for which it is, of course, impossible to assign a reason. Besides the small mounds at the gateways, there are three others within the work, two of which are inconsiderable, while the other is of the largest size, being one hundred and sixty feet long, by not far from twenty feet high. A section of this mound is given, illustrative of a detailed description, in a subsequent chapter. There are also a few other mounds outside of the walls, reference to which is had elsewhere. Numerous dug holes occur in the vicinity of the great mound. Most of these are interior to the work,—a very unusual circumstance. In fact, the whole work appears to have been but partially finished, or constructed in great haste. The mounds at the gateways, and those outside of the walls, were formed by carelessly scooping up the earth at their base leaving irregular pits near them. In most of the regular works the material seems to have been taken up evenly and with care, or brought from a distance.

       No one would be apt to ascribe a defensive origin to this work, yet it is difficult to conceive for what other purpose a structure of such dimensions, embracing nearly one hundred acres, could have been designed. The great mound is anomalous in its character, and throws no light on the question. That there is some hidden significance, in the first place in the regularity, and secondly in the arrangement of the various parts, can hardly be doubted. Nor can the coincidences observable between this and the other succeeding works of the same series be wholly accidental.

Discover Ancient Ohio That the Ohio Historical Society Want to keep Secret

Mound City, Adena Hopewell Enclosure in Chillicothe Ohio

Mound City, Adena Hopewell Earthen Enclosure and Mounds in Chillicothe Ohio in Ross County

       Plate presents a very interesting group of works. They are situated on the left bank of the Scioto river, four miles north of the town of Chillicothe. The enclosure, designated, from the great number of mounds within its walls, "Mound City," is in many respects the most remarkable in the Scioto valley. Through the generous kindness of Henry Shriver, Esq., upon whose estate it is situated, the mounds were all permitted to be investigated; and the work will, in consequence, be often referred to in the course of this volume, particularly when we come to speak of "Mounds."

In outline it is nearly square, with rounded angles, and consists of a simple embankment, between three and four feet high, unaccompanied by a ditch. Its site is the beautiful level of the second terrace, and it is still covered with the primitive forest.

       The first and most striking feature in connection with this work is the unusual number of mounds which it contains. There are no less than twenty-four within its walls. All of these, as above observed, have been excavated, and the principal ones found to contain altars and other remains, which put it beyond question that they were places of sacrifice, or of superstitious origin. [The evidence in support of this conclusion will appear in a subsequent chapter on the mounds and their purposes.]

       These mounds seem placed generally without design in respect to each other, although there is a manifest dependence between those composing the central group, and between those numbered 4 and 5, and 12 and 13. From the principal mound, numbered 7 in the plan, after the fall of the leaves, a full view of every part of the work and of its enclosed mounds is commanded. This mound is seventeen feet high, with a broad base nearly one hundred feet in diameter. The long mound, No. 3, is one hundred and forty feet long, by eighty wide at the base, and ten feet in average height. Broad and deep pits, from which the earth for the construction of the mounds was taken, surround the work. The one occurring at the south-western angle, and of which a b exhibits a vertical section, is at this time eighteen feet deep, by one hundred and twenty feet in width, and over two hundred feet in length. The accumulation of vegetable deposit at the bottom is found, by excavation, to be not less than thirty inches,—a fact which may assist in an approximate estimate of the age of this monument.

The absence of an exterior ditch, as also the fact that the work is commanded from a slightly elevated terrace half a bow-shot to the left, seems sufficient to establish that it was not designed for defence. The skill, which the illustrations of a previous chapter convince us the mound-builders possessed in selecting and fortifying their military positions, is in no degree displayed in this instance. Taking in view also the character and purposes of the mounds as disclosed by excavation, we are certainly well warranted in classing this as a sacred work.

      The custom of enclosing the Adoratorios or Teocallis, upon which their sacrifices and religious rites generally were practised, was universal among the Mexicans. The open temples of the ancient Britons were embraced within parapets of earth, usually, if not always, circular in form. The "tabooed" grounds or sacred places of the Pacific Islanders, are also surrounded, if not by earthen, by stone walls or by palisades.

     One fourth of a mile to the north-west of this work is ay small circle two hundred and fifty feet in diameter, accompanied by two large mounds.

222 Burial Mound and Earthworks to Explore

Adena Hopewell Hopeton Works in Chillicothe, Ross County Ohio

Hopeton Adena Hopewell Earthwork in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio

       Form miles above the city of Chillicothe, on the east bank of the Scioto river, is situated the singular group of works figured in the Plate. They are found upon the third "bottom" or terrace, just at the base of an elevated plain, upon which, five hundred paces distant, and to the right of the main works, the minor group B is situated. They consist of a rectangle, with an attached circle, the latter extending into the former, instead of being connected with it in the usual manner. The rectangle measures nine hundred and fifty by nine hundred feet, and the circle is ten hundred and fifty feet in diameter. The center of the circle is somewhat to the right of a line drawn through the centre of the rectangle, parallel to its longest sides. The exterior gateways are twelve in number, and have an average width of about twenty-five feet. The chord of that part of the circle interior to the rectangle is five hundred and thirty feet. On the east side are two circles, measuring two hundred, and two hundred and fifty feet in diameter respectively; one covering a gateway, the other extending into, and opening within, the work. About two hundred paces north of the great circle is another smaller one, two hundred and fifty feet in diameter.

      The walls of the rectangular work are composed of a clayey loam, twelve feet high by fifty feet base, and are destitute of a ditch on either side. They resemble the heavy grading of a railway, and are broad enough, on the top, to admit the passage of a coach. The wall of the great circle was never as high as that of the rectangle; yet, although it has been much reduced of late years by the plough, it is still about five feet in average height. It is also destitute of a ditch. It is built of clay, which differs strikingly in respect of color from the surrounding soil. The walls of the smaller circles are about three feet in height, with interior ditches of corresponding depth.

       Parallel walls extend from the north-western corner of the rectangle, towards the river to the south-west. They are twenty-four hundred feet, or nearly half a mile long, and are placed one hundred and fifty feet apart. They terminate at the edge of the terrace, at the foot of which, it is evident, the river once had its course; but between which and the present bed of the stream, a broad and fertile "bottom" now intervenes. They are carried in a straight line, and although very slight, (nowhere exceeding two and a half feet in height,) are uninterrupted throughout. They do not connect directly with the main work; at least, they are not traceable near it.

     is a dug hole, of considerable size, near the south-east angle of the rectangular portion of the work, exterior to the walls. In the bank of the table land, which approaches to within three or four hundred feet of the walls, are several excavations, d d d, from which large quantities of earth have been taken, though much less, apparently, than enters into the composition of the embankments.

There are no mounds of magnitude in connection with these works. There are two slight elevations of an oval form, and also one or two very small mounds, within the square, as shown in the plan. There is a large group, however, on the opposite bank of the river, in the direction pursued by the parallels above mentioned.

222 Adena Hopewell Sites to Explore!

High Banks Adena Hopewell Enclosure in Ross County, Ohio

High Bank Adena Hopewell Enclosure in Ross County, Ohio

      The beautiful group here represented is situated on the right bank of the Scioto river, five miles below the town of Chillicothe, near the road from that place to Jackson. It occurs at a place where the river has cut its way up to the third terrace, which in consequence here presents a bold bank, rising seventy-five or eighty feet above the water. This point is generally known as the"High Bank," and gives its name to these works. The third terrace here spreads out into a beautiful, level plain of great extent. The principal work consists of an octagon and a circle; the former measuring nine hundred and fifty feet, the latter ten hundred and fifty feet, in diameter. The coincidences, in the dimensions, between this and the "Hopeton Works,"will be at once observed. The octagon is not strictly regular; although its alternate angles are coincident, and its sides equal. The circle is a perfect one. In immediate connection with the work are two small circles, which are shown in the plan, each measuring two hundred and fifty feet in diameter.

lAerial photo of the Highbank earthworks from the 1990s.      

      The walls of the octagon are very bold; and, where they have been least subjected to cultivation, are now between eleven and twelve feet in height, by about fifty feet base. The wall of the circle is much less, nowhere measuring over four or five feet in altitude. In all these respects, as in the absence of a ditch and the presence of the two small circles, this work resembles the Hopeton Works already alluded to. There are no mounds, except the small ones covering the gateways of the octagon. About half a mile to the southward, and connected with this work by lines of embankment, much reduced but still traceable, is a small group of works, partially destroyed by the river. A fourth of a mile below this subordinate group, on the bank of the terrace, is a large truncated mound, thirty feet in height. It does not fall within the area exhibited on the map.

       At various points around this work are the usual pits or dug holes, some of which are of large size. To the left of the great circle, on the brow of the terrace, is an Indian burial place. The construction of a farm road down the bank disclosed a large quantity of human bones, accompanied by a variety of rude implements. A short distance below this point, on the same bank of the river, is the former site of an Indian town.

       A number of small circles occur about a hundred rods distant from the octagon, in the forest land to the south-east. They measure nearly fifty feet in diameter, and the walls are about two feet in height. It has been suggested that they are the remains of structures of some kind, and also that they were the bases of unfinished mounds. There are no indications of entrances or passageways, a circumstance which favors the latter hypothesis. Similar small circles occur within or in the immediate vicinity of several other large works.

222 Adena Hopewell Burial Mound and Earthwork Sites!