google-site-verification: google1c6a56b8b78b1d8d.html Adena Hopewell Mound Builders in the Ohio Valley: history
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Friday, June 8, 2018

Iroquois Indian Burial Mound in Allen County, Indiana is Destroyed by Archaeologists

Iroquois Indian Burial Mound in Allen County, Indiana is Destroyed by Archaeologists


Iroquois burial mound located northeast of Fort Wayne, in eastern Allen County, Indiana on the Maumee River.  This Iroquois burial mound was photographed prior to being destroyed by IPFW archaeologist, who removed skeletons and artifacts from the mound according to eyewitnesses.  Like 80% of all archaeological digs, there was no known academic paper produced from this excavation.  The mound is near rapids that were interpreted by the Iroquois to have been endowed with spirits.  Knowing the iconic and spiritual nature of the natural landscape will enhance your visit to these sacred spiritual realms for the dead.


  

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Indian Burial Mounds in Whitley County, Indiana

Indian Burial Mounds in Whitley County, Indiana


This small pile of stones has been there since the land was settled according to locals.  It is located on an old Indian trail that overlooks the Miami Indiana village once inhabited by the infamous Little Turtle.


Counties of Whitley and Noble Indiana,1882
      Several mounds have been discovered in Whitley County, and novices have opened a few of them, and as a consequence the more important features have been lost or overloaded. It may be stated in general that, in this locality, the earthworks are of three kinds-sepulchral, where the dead lie buried, sacrificial, where offerings were burned to gain the favor of the deity; and memorial mounds, which were erected to commemorate some great event. A number of years ago, a sepulchral mound was opened about three miles east of Columbia City and a quantity of crumbling homes and a few stone implements were taken. This was a sepulchral mound, and, if a cross section had been examined, the alternate layers of clay, sand and small cemented pebbles would have been seen. This kind of mound was wisely made. There first the stratum of fine gravel, almost as good as cement, placed directly over the skeletons; next was a hard pan of clay that was almost impervious to water as the cement; then came a stratum of sand that would carry all percolating water down the sides of the mounds and away from the skeletons. It is maintained on good authority that corpses, placed under these conditions, with additional stratum of earth above the sand, will be preserved for centuries. The burden of authority places the erection of the mounds throughout. The country at a period preceding the Christian era a co-existent with the old Assyrian, Egyptian and Babylonian nations.

     Several mounds have been opened in the county, in which charcoal has been found. If carefully examined, these mounds will present the following characteristics always present in sacrificial mounds. A small earthen alter, sometimes two or more yards square, in the center and at the bottom of the mound, upon which is often found a bushel or more of charcoal and ashes, often mingled with half consumed bones of animal that were burned to propitiate the deity. Over the altar are found the strata of earth already mentioned. . . .The writer learns from various sources that there are mounds in the following townships: Etna, Jefferson, on its eastern line, Troy, Thorn Creek, Smith, Union, and possibly in Columbia and Cleveland. Openings have been made in most of them, and bones, charcoal, ornaments and implements have been discovered.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Ancient Adena Mound Builder Sites Along S.R. 33 in Columbus, Ohio


Ancient Adena Mound Builder Sites Along S.R. 33 in Columbus, Ohio


Columbus, Ohio was once rich in large Adena burial mounds and earthworks. Several sites can still be visited today. Several Adena sites can still be visited along  S.R. 33, on Columbus's west side. Take a visual tour of all of Ohio's largest burial mounds here https://youtu.be/H5NN9nNRQKg


This large Adena mound was once in the village of Dublin, Ohio. The site is now a parking lot.

Near the large mound at Dublin was this Adena Henge site. These earthworks were constructed to align to solar events of the Solstices and Equinox.

Part of the northest circle is still visible in this lawn. The interior ditch and the gateway is all that remain of this earthwork that was constructed as early 500 B.C.

Further south on S.R. 33 in Columbus is the Shrum mound.This photo was taken in the 1920s

The Shrum mound is preserved in a park on Columbus's southeast side a few miles off of S.R. 33

Friday, February 26, 2016

Ancient Burial Mounds and Earthworks in Fort Wayne, (Allen County) Indiana

Ancient Burial Mounds and Earthworks in Fort Wayne, (Allen County) Indiana


Fort Wayne ( Allen County) is rich in prehistoric remains with burial mounds and earthworks dating as early as 200 B.C.  5 sites were photographed. A Sun Temple that is a smaller version of that found at Mounds State Park, dating to 200 B.C., an Earthen Fort dating to 800 A.D. and 3 burial mounds that could date as early as 500 B.C..

Photos from "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley." 85 burial mound and earthwork sites photographed in the state of Indiana.  Yes, many giant human Nephilim skeletons were found within the burial mounds. http://www.amazon.com/The-Nephilim-Ch...

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Oneoto Sioux Earthwork at Merom, Indiana (Sullivan County)

Oneoto Sioux Earthwork at Merom, Indiana (Sullivan County)

Earthwork placed on the highest bluff of the Wabash River was believed to constructed by the Oneoto Sioux.

The Strawtown earthwork was excavated by IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana and their conclusions were that the earthwork was Oneoto Sioux in origin. This earthwork had been plowed for many years and its original contours diminished. The archaeologist replaced the earth when finished; leaving no apparent signs of an excavation. The earthwork at Yorktown, Indiana looks similar in design to Strawtown, also on the White River and may also prove to be Oneoto in origin.
    The large mounds found in the southwestern portion of the State represent some of the largest mounds ever constructed by the Hopewell.  Eli Lilly had made the suggestion that Murphy, Bone Bank and the Indian “citadel” at Merom, on the Wabash in Sullivan County, were indicative of a Siouan      relationship, equating the three with the Oneoto culture. Moorehead said of the Murphy site that the platform pipes represented “early Siouan.”

Monday, February 1, 2016

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.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Indiana 3,000 B.C.- Maritime Archaic Slate Points Discovered in Northern Indiana

Indiana 3,000 B.C. Maritime Archaic Slate Points Discovered in Northern Indiana




The slate points on the left are from Maine and were illustrated in The Lost Red Paint People of Maine, 1930 by Walter Brown Smith. To the right are identical slate points found in Dekalb County, Indiana and photographed by Cameron Parks

     Mark Schurr, from Indiana University did an archaeological survey of Lagrange County and concluded that prior to 1,500 B.C. the cultural influence of the county was from the northeast and also diagrammed a few Brewerton points. In another paper entitled “Slate Artifacts from Dekalb County, Indiana,” submitted to the Indiana Historical Society by Cameron Parks who was a local collector of artifacts in Northeast Indiana. Parks photographed several of the slate points and realized that they were identical to points that are found in the northeast and found with the Maritime people.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

List and Archaeological Maps of the Burial Mounds in Indiana. Allen - Franklin

List and Archaeological Maps of the Burial Mounds and Earthworks in Indiana


Allen County. Group of four mounds, 10 miles north of Fort Wayne, near Stoner's Station on the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad. Explored; contained human bones. Stone ax and spearhead found in the vicin ity. Described by R. S. Robertson, Sm. Rep., 1874, p. 383. Three mounds on St. Joseph River near the mouth of Cedar Creek at Cedarville. Circular inclosure in a bend of St. Joseph River on the east bank below the preceding, on the farm of Peter Notestine. Explored and briefly described by R. S. Robertson, Sm. Rep., 1874, p. 383. Semicircular inclosure on St. Joseph River, below the preceding and opposite Antrup's mill. Mound on St. Joseph River at the mouth of Breckenridge Creek. R. S. Robertson, Sm. Rep., 1874, pp. 383,384.

Carroll County. Large mound 6 miles southeast of Monticello. Briefly described by W. H. Hamelle, Indianapolis News, July 24, 1885; also mentioned in the Montreal (Canada) Star. August 8, 1885; Boston (Massa chusetts) Record, August 3, 1885. Shown by Mr. Collett to be a natural elevation. W. H. Smith in Indianapolis News, July 29, 1885. Clark County. Circular inclosure on James D. Robinson's farm on second bottom of Fourteen Mile Creek, about 2 miles west of New Washington. Described and figured by E. T. Cox, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1874, pp. 30, 31, Fig. 5. Shell heap at Clarksville just below the falls of the Ohio River, and one at H. Beach & Co.'s cement mill. Opened; several stone imple ments found. Others in the county not definitely located. Mentioned, with brief notice of articles found, by E. T. Cox, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1873, pp. 124, 125. Stone fort on a hill on the Ohio River at the mouth of Fourteen Mile Creek and near Charlestown. Described and figured in Geol. Surv. Ind., 1873, pp. 125-127,184-186. Also noticed by F. W. Putnam in 8th Rep. Peab. Mus., p. 47, and Am. Nat., vol. 9, p. 410. Lengthy description by W. H. Smith in Indianapolis News, July 29, 1885, copied into the New Albany (Indiana) Ledger, August 3, 1885. Brief notice in Geol. Surv. Ind., 1878. p. 124. Mounds on Battle Creek, 3£ miles north of Utica. Mounds 11 miles north of Patterson's. Mounds on both banks of Fourteen Mile Creek about a mile from Stone Fort. All located on map of Clark County by Prof. E. T. Cox, 5th Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Ind., 1873. Curious stone mounds on a bluff above the Ohio River, on Sec. 32, T. 2, K. 10, about 1 mile below Dean's marble quarry. Described and figured by E. T. Cox, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1874, pp. 25-29.

Crawford County. Deposits, quarries, and other antiquities in Wyandotte Cave near the Ohio River. Many flint chips and arrowheads were found in the mouth of the cave; also a stone saucer containing a black substance. Described by H. C. Hovey, Proc. Am. Ass. Adv. Sci., vol. 29(1880), pp. 725-731. Rock house and implements near Mifflin. Notice by John Collett, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1878, p. 449. Dearborn County. Inclosure and mounds in Section 2, on the hill immediately north of Hardinsburgh and about 3 miles north of Lawrenceburgh. Described and figured by E. T. Cox, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1878, pp. 121-125. Mounds in the vicinity of Aurora, one of which stood within the city limits. Mentioned by E. T. Cox, Geol. Surv. Ind., 1878, p. 122.

Decatur County. Mounds occur in this county chiefly along Flat Rock and Clifty Creeks. The only definite localities noted are the Shellhorn estate at tbe junction of Big and Little Flat Rock Creeks and Uewpoint. Shells, beads, and pottery were found in these mounds. Geol. Surv. Ind., 1882, pp. 150,151. De Kalb County. Two mounds near Waterloo. Explored and briefly described. Skel etons found. Circular earthwork, 6 miles northwest of Waterloo. Brief descrip tion. Mound on the farm of Henry Gouzer in Fairfield Township in which a few bones were found. Mere mention. Group of mounds about 5 miles northeast of Waterloo. Short description. Two mounds on the farm of Mr. Taylor, half a mile from above. R. S. Robertson, Sm. Rep., 1874, pp. 381, 382. 

Fayette County. Single mounds on NE. i, Sec. 34, T. 13 N., R. 13 E , in NE. J, See. 33, T. 13 N., R. 13 E.; two in NE. J, Sec. 14, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. In one of the latter ornaments of copper were found. Workshop in SE. J, Sec. 36, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. Camping grounds and traces of old trails in Sees. 34 and 30, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. Mound in Sec. 24, T. 13 K, R. 13 E. Mentioned by Dr. George W. Homsher, Sm. Rep., 1882, pp. 737-749 

Fountain County. Mounds to the north of Attica. Brief mention in Foster's Preh. Rac., p. 143.
to be junction of Big and Little Flat Rock Creeks and Uewpoint. Shells, beads, and pottery were found in these mounds. Geol. Surv. Ind., 1882, pp. 150,151. 

De Kalb County. Two mounds near Waterloo. Explored and briefly described. Skeletons found. Circular earthwork, 6 miles northwest of Waterloo. Brief description. Mound on the farm of Henry Gouzer in Fairfield Township in which a few bones were found. Mere mention. Group of mounds about 5 miles northeast of Waterloo. Short de scription. Two mounds on the farm of Mr. Taylor, half a mile from above. R. S. Robertson, Sm. Rep., 1874, pp. 381, 382. 

Fayette County. Single mounds on NE. i, Sec. 34, T. 13 N., R. 13 E , in NE. J, See. 33, T. 13 N., R. 13 E.; two in NE. J, Sec. 14, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. In one of the latter ornaments of copper were found. Workshop in SE. J, Sec. 36, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. Camping grounds and traces of old trails in Sees. 34 and 30, T. 13 N., R. 13 E. Mound in Sec. 24, T. 13 K, R. 13 E. Mentioned by Dr. George W. Homsher, Sm. Rep., 1882, pp. 737-749 

Fountain County. Mounds to the north of Attica. Brief mention in Foster's Preh. Rac., p. 143.

Franklin County. A mound on N. part Sec. 31, T. 10 ]ST.,-R, 2 W. Mentioned by Dr. George W. Homsher, Sm. Rep., 1882, p. 733. Mounds have been noted at the following points in this county: On Sec. 5, T. 9 N., R. 1 W. On Sees. 1, 2, 4, 5, 0, and 9, T. 9 N., R. 2 W. On Sees. 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, and 35, T. 10 K, R. 2 W. On Sees. 4, 9, and 13, T. 12 N., R. 13 E. There is a small earthen circle on Sec. 25, T. 10 N., R. 2 W. A singular stone structure on Sec. 23, T. 10 N., R. 2 W. A cemetery on Sec. 4, T. 9 N., R. 2 W. Workshops have been discovered on Sees. 3 and 4, T. 9 N., R. 2 W.; Sec. 20, T. 10 N., R. 2 W.; Sec 10, T. 12 K, R. 13 E. Traces of camp sites and old trails are observable on Sec. 31, T. 10 N., R. 1 W.; Sec. 33, T. 10 K, R. 2 W.; Sec. 10, T. 12 N., R. 13 E. Dr. George W. Homsher, Sm. Rep. 1882, pp. 730-749. Mounds in the vicinity of Harrison on the Whitewater. Noticed ami a somewhat full mention of contents given in Brown's Western Gazetteer, pp. 56-58.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

List, Maps and Locations of Indian Burial Mounds in Alabama

List of Indian Burial Mounds in Alabama

Baldwin County. 
Mound on Pordido Bay, near Josephine post-office, containing a large amount of pottery in fragments. Reported by Francis H. Parsons, of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
Shell heaps on the Mobile River at its mouth, especially on Simpson Island. Opened ; human remains, bone implements, and pottery ob tained. Described by A. S. Gaines and K. M. Cunningham, Sm. Rep., 1877, pp. 290,291. 

Shell banks on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, 1 mile from Point Clear. Reported by C. Cadle, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 442. Mound on the extremity of Bear Point Peninsula, in Perdido Bay, in which human bones and a number of earthern pots— some containing portions of skulls — were found. Examined and described by G. M. Sternberg, Proc. A. A. A. S., v. 24 (1875), pp. 287-290.
 Mounds and other works on the Tensaw River near where Battle River leaves it. Broken pottery found in one mound. Described and figured by A. Bigelow, Am. Jour. Sci. and Art, 2d ser., v. 15 (1853), pp. 186-192. 

Barbour County. Mounds near Eufaula. Noticed by J. M. MoElory, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 444. Remains of an old Creek town, 3 miles northeast of Eufaula, on the St. Francis bend of the Chattahoochee River. Briefly described in Report.

Blount County. Cache of seventeen chipped implements, spear heads, etc., in a field near Blountsville. Reported by Frank Burns, Sm. Rep., 1882, p. 820. Burial cave, known as "Camp's Cave," 15 miles south of Blountsville. Skeletons, wooden trough, bark matting, copper articles, etc., have been found in it. Frank Burns, Sm. Rep., 188*, p. 826; also mentioned in Report.

Calhoun County. Large isolated mound about 3 miles southeast of Oxford on the Caver place, near Chocolocco Creek. Noticed by Elston Luttrell, Sm. Rep., 1882, p. 827. Also reported by J. P. Rogan. Cherokee County. Ancient parallel ditches at the falls of Little River, in the northeast corner of this County, near the De Kalb County line. Rock houses or caves in the vicinity. Pickett's Hist. Ala,, v. 1, pp. 175-176.

Chilton County. Mound at Varna, on the South and North Alabama Railroad, near the old Repito Gold mine, on sec. 16, T. 21 R. 16 E. Reported by Dr. E. A. Smith. Stone heaps in T. 23 N.,R. 14 E.,of Stephen's meridian, 3 £ miles north east of Jemison Station, South and North Alabama Railroad. Described by William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1881, pp. 0I0, 017. Clark County. Burying ground and mound on the site of )h\ Fort Mauvila (the latter now obliterated), 4.| miles east of Gainestown on the bank of Alabama River, in Sec. 2, T. 5 N., R. 4 E. Brief notice in Report.

Clark County. Burying ground and mound on the site of ) Fort Mauvila (the latter now obliterated), 4.| miles east of Gainestown on the bauk of Alabama River, in Sec. 2, T. 5 N., R. 4 E. Brief notice in Report. Clay County. Stone mound in sec. 26, T. 19 S., R. 7 E. Briefly described by William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 382. Ancient mica quarry in sec. 26, T. 19 S., R. 7 E. Described briefly by William Gesner, Sm. Ron., 1879, p. 382. 

Dallas County. Ancient ditches at Cahawba. Incidental mention In Pickett's Hist. Ala., v. 1, p. 172. Elmore County. " Old Fort Jackson Works," mounds and house-sites, and remains of old French Fort Toulouse and United States Fort Jackson, near the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. Partially explored by Dr. Palmer. Mentioned in Report. Mound at Wetumpka. Reported by James D. Middleton. Mounds and house remains on the west bank of the Coosa River,about a mile above where it is joined by the Tallapoosa. Mound on an island in Jackson Lake, 6 miles north of Montgomery. The " Parker mound" on the Coosa River, near its junction "with the Tallapoosa. Explored by Dr. E. Palmer.

Greene County. A group of mounds on the Black Warrior River near Knoxville, in the northeast corner of the county. Reported by E. A. Smith. Hale County. A group of flat-topped, square and conical mounds known as the "Prince mounds," about half a mile from Carthage, in the northwestern part of the county. Noticed iu rickett's Hist. Ala., vol. 1., p. 166; reported also by Middleton, Rogan, and Palmer. A mound 7 miles below Carthage. Reported by James D. Middleton. 

Jackson County. Mound on west bank of Tennessee River, 1 mile above Bridgeport. Three small mounds on west bank of Tennessee River, 3 miles below Bridgeport. Two mounds on west bank of Tennessee River just above Widow's Creek. Another on same side due east from Stevenson. Mound on east bank of Tennessee River, nearly opposite last, below the mouth of Morgan's Creek. Three small mounds on west bank of Tennessee River, at Sublette ferry, near Bellefonte.

Jefferson County, Group of mounds in T. 17 S., R. 1 W., about 4 miles north of Bir mingham and west of the South and North Alabama Railroad. Described by William Gesucr, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 610. Large quadrangular mound a few miles from Elytou. Mentioned in Pickett's Hist. Ala., vol. 1., p. 178. Mounds and "furnaces" on Village Creek. General mention by C. McKinley. Small group of mounds near old Jonesborough, on sec. 8, T. 19 S., R. 4 W., of Huntsville meridian. Explored by James I). Middleton. Described and figured in Report

Lauderdale County. The "Douglass mounds" near lock No. 10 of the Mussel Shoals Canal, 12 miles east of Florence. Briefly described in Report. Hexagonal mound surrounded by a wall, on the bank of the Tennessee River near Florence. Figured and described in Anc. Mon., pp. 109, 110. Noticed in Pickett's Hist. Ala., vol. 1., p. 168. Brief description in Dr. Palmer's field notes for lrf8X "Stafford Mound" (or shell heap), a mile south of Florence, on the bank of the Tennessee River.
Lee County. Workshop, east of Youngsborough, ou the Western Railroad, at the foot of Storey's Mountain, T. 19 N., R. 27 E. Brief notice by William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 443.

 Lowndes County. Village site, or burial ground, in the northeastern corner of the county, on the south bank of the Alabama River, at the junction of Pentlala Creek with the river. Human bones, inclosed in double pots, and ashes have been found. Brief description, Palmer's Held notes, 188:!. Three groups of mounds in this county, as follows : One in the southern part of the county, on Mussel Creek, on land of Mr. Fisher Merritt, T. 12 N., R. 14 E. One ou Big Swamp Creek, in the center of the county, T. 14 ST., R. 14 E. One in the northern part, on the Alabama River, between Whitehall and Benton. Brief mention by W. M. Garrett, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 443. " Workshops," near Mount Willing, one on Mr. Hartley's plantation, Sec. 36, T. 13 N., R. 13 E., and one on Mr. Lee's plantation, Sec. 32, T. 13 N., R. 14 E. Short notice by W. M. Garrett, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 443. Macon (or Elmore) County. Group of three mounds, 10 miles below Little Tallassie, on the Ala bama River. Figure showing positions. Schoolcraft's Hist. Ind. Tribes, vol. 5 (1856), p. 282. 

Madison County. Mounds on Jones's plantation, near Newmarket.
Mounds at Hazel Green, on the old Jeffries place. Reported by Gilbert Thompson. - Shell heaps at Huntsville. Reported by Dr. E. Palmer. Long shell heap on the north bank of the Tennessee River, near Whitesburg. Described in Report. Marshall County. Burial cave, known as the " Hampton Cave," about 1 mile west of Guntersville. Partially explored. Described in Report

Mobile County. Large shell heap at the south end of the county on the north side of Bayou Coq d'Inde, near its mouth, a few miles from Bayou La Batre. Described by Ma.j. W. T. Walthall in Mobile Tribune, August 11, 1859. Reprinted in 16th Rep. Peab. Mus., pp. 186-189. Also reported by Chas. Mohr, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 619.
Shell heaps along the coast, one of them at the mouth of Bayou Como. Description by Maj. W. T. Walthall in Mobile Tribune, August 11, 1859. Re printed in 16th Rep. Peab. Mus. , pp. 186-189. Also reported by Chas. Mohr, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 618. An earth mound surrounded by a shell mound near Mobile. Mentioned by W. S. McNeil. A burial ground, near Mount Vernon Arsenal, about 30 miles from Mobile and 3 miles from the Alabama River. Reported by Charles Mohr, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 619. Montgomery County. Group of five mounds, 9 miles southwest of Montgomery, on the bank of the Alabama River. Briefly described in Report.

 St. Clair County. Old Indian fortification on the SE. J Sec. 16, T. 17 S., R. 1 E., of the Huntsville meridian. Reported by Hiram Haines, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 443.

 Shelby County. Stone heap, about 1 mile east of Siluria, on the South and North Alabama Railroad, T. 21 S., R. 3 W. William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 617. 

Sumter County. The "Cedar Hammock Group," situated on Sec. 5, T. 17 N., R. 1 E., of Stevens's meridian. Small mounds. Described by Dr. Edward Palmer in Report. 

Talladega County. Old Creek settlement on the bank of Talladega Creek, 4 miles southeast of Talladega, at Cragsdale. Bones, shell ornaments and pottery found. Short description in Report. Ancient mica quarry in Sec. 12, T. 20 S., R. 6 E. William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1879, p. 382; also, p. 443. Workshops in T. 18 S., R. 7 E., on the headwaters of Talladega Creek, at the eastern end of Cedar Ridge. Mentioned by William Gesner, Sm. Rep., 1881, p. 617. A group of mounds " orderly arranged," 15 miles southwest of Ox ford, on south bank of Choccoloco Creek. Elston Luttrell, Sm. Rep., 1882, p. 827. Also reported by J. P. Rogan. Mounds and Indian cemetery in the vicinity of Talladega. Reported by John P. Rogan and Dr. Palmer. A shell bed at Fort William on the Coosa River, Sec. 6 or 7, T. 22 S., R. 2E. Mentioned by M. Tuomey, 2d Bienn. Rep. on the Geol. of Ala. (1858), p. 157, 

Tallapoosa County. Aboriginal soapstone quarry. Exact locality not given. Mentioned by Charles Mohr, Sm. Rep., 1881, pp. 617-616.



Indian mounds and earthwork map of Alabama 1
Indian mounds and earthwork map of Alabama 2

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Pickaway County, Ohio Adena Burial Mounds

Pickaway County, Ohio Burial Mounds

One of Ohio's largest ancient burial mounds

A large Adena burial mound is located a few miles east of Circleville

This large Adena burial mounds is located a few miles east of Circleville, Ohio.
A large burial mound located on Darby creek.
This massive Adena burial mound is located at least a 1/2 mile from the road on Darby creek.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Iroquois Spirit Stones Used to Invoke the Dead Found at Ft. Wayne's Most Haunted

Iroquois Spirit Stones Used to Invoke the Dead Found at Ft. Wayne's Most Haunted


.
This woodcut is from the Pictorial History of Allen County, Indiana, 1880. #1 and #3 are pop-eyed birdstones associated with the Meadowood Iroquois. The purpose of these stones is a mystery but may have been Spirit Stones.  The ancient perception of the bird was that of transition from the living to the dead. They may have been used to invoke the spirits

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Indiana Archaeologists Determine Hopewell Earthwork at Strawtown, Indiana is Oneoto Sioux

Indiana Archaeologists Determine Hopewell Earthwork at Strawtown, Indiana is Oneoto Sioux


The Srawtown henge is discernable from the circular elevated platform seen on the left encircled by a ditch with the outer wall also still visible. Despite being plowed for years what may be a gateway is evident on the southeast section. Traces of additional embankments were discovered several hundred yards south of the earthwork. The Strawtown earthwork is located on the high ground overlooking the White River as it bends to the south.
The larger size of this henge is comparable to others found at the Highbank Works at Chillicothe, Ohio and Yorktown, Indiana. The henges around Piqua Ohio also include a work 300 feet in diameter along with a spoked burial. A spoked burial was also discovered in Madison County Indiana near the works at Mounds State Park. IPFW archaeologist excavated parts of the earthwork and concluded that the artifacts they found were culturally affiliated with the Oneoto Sioux. Strawtown is the anchor to Indiana’s magical 50 miles that reveals by going back upriver to the east the circular henges at Mounds State Park, the henge in Delaware county, the large mound at Windsor and the Winchester works.  


Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History (Fourteenth Annual Report), 1884
But Strawtown has an antiquity evidently higher than the days of the Delaware Indians. The mound builders have left their footprints in this vicinity by the numerous relics of the Stone Age that have been picked up by the present inhabitants. A little west of the present village there is a burial mound about six feet high; it has been plowed over for a number of years, so that not only its height has been reduced, but its base rendered so indistinct that its diameter can not be accurately measured; it is, however, between seventy and eighty feet. It was opened in 1882 by Judge Overman, of Tipton, and four skeletons were found lying on the original surface of the ground, with their heads together and their feet directed to the cardinal points of the compass.
This type of 'spoked burial' is found throughout the Ohio Valley associated with both the Adena and Hopewell.

At a distance of 150 yards southeast of this mound is a circular embankment, now about three feet high, and twelve feet on the base.  The diameter of the circle, measured from the bottom of the ditch on each side, is 315 feet. There is a doubt as to what period this work should be referred. A tradition among the “old settlers” claims that the remains of palisades that once formed a stockade, were standing on the embankment when the early immigrants settled here. This tradition is strengthened by the fact that in 1810 a stockade was built by the Delaware Indians somewhere near this spot, as a protection against their Miami neighbors north of White River. Moreover, it was not the custom of the mound builders to make a ditch on the outside of their embankments. On the other hand, the regularity of the work, and the perfect form of the circle, is hardly compatible with the idea that this is the work of modern savages. It is possible that the circle dates back to the period of the mound builders, and that the Delaware’s took advantage of it to build their stockade on, and made the ditch to strengthen their palisades. The ditch was been filled, and the embankment reduced much by cultivation.