Mound Builders in Steuben County, Indiana

 Mound Builders in Steuben County, Indiana

This bust type birdstone was found in Alvarado, Indiana near the location of the circular fortification. It is evidence that the earthwork was constructed by the Iroquois sometime around 800 A.D. An identical earthwork is preserved in the adjoining county of Dekalb.

All of the sites below were investigated, but nothing remained in Steuben County.  The burial mounds that were 5 in number are still preserved in the adjoining county of Williams, Ohio.

Seventh Annual Report of the Geological Survey of Indiana, 1875

     Through the kindness of James Colgrove, of Kendallville, we were shown some mounds near Little Turkey Lake in the southwest corner of Steuben County. One on the roadside, about ten foot in diameter and ten feet high, had been opened; it was of coarse gravel and sand, the same as the surface soil in the adjoining field.

      A few rods southeast of this, in the woods, we visited a well defined mound, twenty-five feet in diameter and four and half feet high; the center had been dug out, a deeper excavation was made, reaching down to the level of the surround soil, without finding any bones, or other evidence of burial. About a quarter of a mile further south, on the land of Frank Glascow, near the margin of a marsh, (ancient lake) another mound was discovered, having about the same dimensions as the one last mentioned. An excavation was made in the top, and at the depth of three feet, ashes, charcoal, and fragments of human bones were found; about one foot below these another layer of ashes and charcoal was encountered, among which were the much decayed bones of an adult human being; associated with the bones were fragments of a skull, jaw bones, and well preserved, but much worn teeth, indicating burial in a sitting posture. One stone implement was taken out - a chisel - shaped slab of mottled slate, four and half inches long by two inches wide, and one quarter of an inch thick, with one corner broken off.

History of Steuben County, 1955

      The circle mound on Oscar Taylor’s farm in Richland Township, along Fish Creek, east of Hamilton Lake. What was once a six-foot embankment has been reduced by farming operations until it is scarcely perceptible as an Indiana circle.

History of the Maumee River Basin, 1905

      Another circle is situated about four miles northwest of Hamilton, Steuben County, in Richland Township. It is locally known as The Mystic Circle, it is 68 yards in diameter and averages between three and four feet in height with a breadth of twelve feet at the base of the earth wall or ridge . . .. shows an entrance or opening twelve to fourteen feet wide, a little west of south.

History of Steuben County, 1955

“Indian Lore of Steuben County” by Cameron Parks

      The mound as used by the “Mound Builders” is classified into definite groups, as burial, alter, temple, sepulcher, observation, lookout and anomalous. The only two in Steuben County that may be properly classified, would be the lookout mound near Hogback Lake and the Sepulcher Mound or Circle Mound on Oscar Taylor’s farm in Richland Township, along Fish Creek, east of Hamilton Lake. What was once a six-foot embankment has been reduced by farming operations until it is scarcely perceptible as an Indian Circle.

Atlas of Steuben County Indiana, 1880

       There are also mounds in the vicinity of Hamilton, on the shores of Crooked and Silver Lakes, and also in other places in the county, but of Indiana burial grounds the number is not so limited. Fleshing stones, flint arrow points, and stone hatchets are numerous, and attract but comparatively little attention to what they would in localities not so well supplied with relics of a race now fast disappearing from the land.

Geological Survey of Indiana, 1873

      A few small mounds are known. Just east of Pleasant Lake the outlines of two can be distinctly traced; no one seemed to know whether either of them had ever been opened. On the north shore of Silver Lake, 20 feet above the water, are five mounds, the largest about 20 feet in diameter and 3 to 5 feet high; some years ago J.W. Gale, with two or three friends, opened one of these and found human bones, but no stone implements. In the southwest corner of the county on the north shore of Little Turkey Lake are 10 small mounds. Dr. W.E. Weicht was one of a party who dug into one of these some years ago, no implements or pottery, but six different layers of human bones were found, distinctly separated by a thin strata of earth; the skeletons lay on their backs, extended full length. This mound was about 10 feet in longer diameter and six feet in the shorter by five feet high.

Bureau of American Ethnology, 1920, Bulletin 71

“Native Cemeteries and Forms of Burial East of the Mississippi”

      Decidedly different from any of the preceding was a great communal, or tribal, burial mound which stood on the lowlands of Buffalo Creek, near the Ohio, in Union County, Kentucky. The mound was partially examined and “on the west side bodies were found covered with six feet of earth, forming about five separate layers. The bones of the lowest layer were so tender that they could not be removed. . . It would appear that the general plan of burial was to scrape the surface free from all vegetable matter and deposit the body on its back, with the head turned to the left side. The bodies at the bottom of the heap, as far as could be ascertained by the examination, were buried without weapons, tools, or burial urns. . . To the depth of three feet from the surface, some of the bodies had with them burial urns. . . Three or four tiers of skeletons, of later burials, were covered with clay. It is probable that as many as 300 bodies, infant and adult were buried in this mound. . . Adults and children were buried together.”

      This represented a type of burial mound encountered farther up the valley of the Ohio, a good example of which formerly stood within the city of Cincinnati. It was “in the center of the upper and lower tow, on the edge of the upper bank. The principle street leading from the water is cut through the barrow, and exposes its strata and remains. . . The dead repose in double horizontal tiers between each tier are regular layers of sand, flat surface stones, gravel and earth. I counted seven tiers, and might have discovered more. . . With the dead were buried their ornaments, arms and utensils..” (Asher, (1) pp. 185-190)

      In the extreme northeastern corner of Indiana, almost due north of the preceding, was another mound of this type. In the southwest corner of Steuben County, on the north shore of Little Turkey Lake, stood a group of 10 small mounds. One of the groups was examined and six strata of human remains were revealed, “distinctly separated by thin strata of earth; the skeletons lay on their backs, extended full length”. Their mound was about 10 feet in longer diameter and 6 feet in the shorter, by 5 feet high. Neither pottery nor implements occurred with the remains.

Mound Builders in Fort Wayne (Allen County) Indiana

 Mound Builders in Fort Wayne (Allen County) Indiana

Various Birdstones and Tube Pipe Found in Allen County, Indiana.

Map showing location of Indian Burial Mounds and earthworks near Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana

The History of Allen County Indiana, 1880

“Prehistoric Remains” by R. S. Robertson:

     What became of them is another question, which will probably forever remain unanswered. That they disappeared at once is wholly improbable, as is also the theory that they were totally destroyed. The most probably theory is that as they met the first eruption of the savage red man from the northwest, and all Indiana tradition points to this quarter for the place where the Indians came, they were gradually driven in their outlying settlements, and finally overwhelmed by the constantly flowing tide of ruthless savages, more skilled than they in warfare, and envious of their rich hunting grounds.

     The remnants of the Mound-Builders would be pressed by southward, whence they came and those of the savages who followed them to the south and overcame them would retain more of their customs than those tribes of the north who amalgamated with them in lesser degree, or not at all .

     Northern Indiana has many proofs of the presence of this race recorded almost indelibly upon its soil, and they have left some of their monuments in Allen County, but not as many, nor so extensive, as ones found in Ohio or to the southern part of Indiana.

       While some of them were pushing upward, and making great settlements along the tributaries of the Ohio, others had passed further up the Mississippi, discovered The great Lakes, and entered into quite extensive copper mining operations on the shores of Lake Superior. Colonies had occupied Michigan, and as far south in Indiana as the Kankakee, and it from them, we think, that Allen County received the marks of their occupation. All along the valley of Cedar Creek, in DeKalb County, their mounds and earthworks appear in considerable number, but decrease in number as we proceed southward onto Allen County, and we totally wanting in the southern portion of the county.

       On Cedar Creek, near Stoners, on the Fort Wayne J & S Railroad, is a group of four mounds. Two of them are in a line north and south and are about forty feet apart. About fifteen rods east of these are two others about the same distance apart and on a line nearly east and west. When visited by the writer a few years since, three of them had been partially excavated years before and were said to have contained a large number of human bones, arrow-heads and some copper ornaments. The remaining mound was excavated at the time but disclosed only lumps of charcoal and a layer of hard-baked earth near its base.

     These mounds are situated on the high ground between the Cedar and Willow Creeks, and the Auburn Road passed between them.

      Four miles south of these on the Coldwater Road, on the farm of Henry Wolford (now owned by Mr. Bowser) is a large oblong mound which was only partially explored, but in which a perforated piece of ribboned slate was found, with much charcoal and a stratum of baked earth.

      At Cedarville, on the St. Joseph, near the mouth of Cedar Creek, are three mounds about a hundred feet apart, situated on a line running northwest nearly parallel with the general direction of the river at this point. None of them have been fully explored, but one has been nearly removed to use its earth for mending the road, and charcoal was found in considerable quantities, as is usual in mounds of this class.

      Descending the St. Joseph on the east, to the farm of Peter Notestine, one of the oldest settlers, we find a circular “fort” or earthwork, situated in the bend of the river... it has been plowed over for nearly thirty years and has lost much of its outlines. Many relics have been found here, and when newly plowed, numerous fragments of pottery, flints, and stone implements are yet found in and around its site. A large pipe of pottery was found here some years since. The bowel and stem are molded in one piece and the end of the stem has been flattened by the fingers while plastic to form a mouthpiece.

Henge or open air sun temple on the St. Joseph River near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The gateways to henges are generally aligned to solar events.  This gateway is aligned to the May 1st sunrise.  The pipe described in the previous history is diagnostic of the Point Peninsula Iroquois that would date this henge from 200 B.C.- 200 A.D.; a date that contemporaneous with the many henges in central Indiana and the Ohio Valley that were constructed by the Adena. The Iroquois from this time period had assimilated many of the Adena burial mound and earthwork traits.

.Still further down the river, on the west side, opposite Antraps Mill, is a semi-circular fort with its ends on the riverbank.

It is about 600 feet in arc. The earthwork is yet nearly two feet high, with a well-defined ditch on the outside. Very large trees, which have grown on the embankment, have fallen and gone to decay. We found in the earth, which had been upturned by a fallen tree, a fragment from the neck of a vessel of pottery with square indentations on the surface.

A series of these horseshoe shaped works extended down the Maumee River to Toledo. They along with the circular works were all 200 feet in diameter.

The Earthen walls of this prehistoric Iroquois work can still be seen north of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

No efforts have been made to preserve the earthwork and it is not listed as an historic site.  It was subjected to excavations by IPFW archaeologists, the last few years, but what damage was done to the work has not been investigated.  The Allen County Historical Society [ It's  a "Center" now] was informed of the earthwork, but claimed they "had no interest" ????

      Still further down the river, on the east side, at the mouth of Breckenridge Creek, is a single mound, which has not been opened except a slight excavation in its side, which developed the customary lumps of charcoal. This point is about four miles north of Fort Wayne, and is the most southerly point in the county at which mounds and earthworks are known to exist.

Iroquois burial mound can still be seen on Breckenridge Creek, the dam has raised water levels and it is now partially submerged part of the year.

History of the Maumee River Basin, 1905

     Nine mounds have been determined on the high banks of the Maumee River. Two of these mounds are in Indiana near the Ohio line.

Iroquois Burial mound in eastern Allen County on the Maumee River, before being desecrated by IPFW archaeologist who removed the skeletons from the mound so that they could be boxed up at the University. Despite the overwhelming evidence that the mounds in Allen county were Iroquois, the Universities refuse to acknowledge the fact because it invokes the Native American Graves Protection Act that deems it a crime to dig in to a  grave of a "known" tribe.

Another burial mound located on the Maumee River in eastern Allen County. An excavation by Indiana University has left a hole in the top giving it a "volcano" appearance.

Near the last mound is this rare venerated Spirit Tree that was part of the sacred landscape that also included the rapids of the Maumee.  The tree was struck by lightning a few years ago and has been destroyed.  

Early Native American Indian Mound Builders Ruins in Lagrange County, Indiana

Early Native American Indian Mound Builders Ruins in Lagrange County, Indiana

Indian Burial mound map of Lagrange County, Indiana. The human figures represent large skeletons hat were found within the mounds. A graveyard in Lagrange County, Indiana of giant humans over 8 feet in height here  https://nephilimgiantsinnorthamerica.blogspot.com/2017/03/8-foot-human-giant-removed-from.html

Lagrange County map shows the locations of the burial mounds and earthworks in the county.  Each of these sites were investigated, with only one mound that was found.  This mound was not listed in any of the county histories, but was from a list given to me by Mr. McKibben who was head of the Historical Society for many years.  He thought that one of the mounds on the list was still extant, and had not wished to give it to university archaeologist who had been there earlier while doing an archaeological survey of the county.  He was afraid, and justly so, that university archaeologists would destroy anything they found.  The one mound that was found was coniclal in shape and encircled by a ditch.  The top had been removed by a local without permission, The mound was photographed but heavy rains made the picture quality poor and it was left out of, "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley."

History of LaGrange County

        Since it has been established that Northern Indiana, including LaGrange County, is rich in the remains of that mysterious people known as Mound Builders, it seems necessary to give at this point what is known of those people in this vicinity. The reader will fine in Chapter I, Part II, of this volume, complete classification of the Mound Builders’ works. Without attempting another such classification, the antiquities of LaGrange County, so far as known will be considered. I may be premised, that, from the fact that no military fortifications have been discovered in either of the two counties LaGrange or Noble, the territory was in the center of a large country of Mound Builders, and not on the border, or between two or more hostile tribes. Nothing has been found here, with one possible exception, save sepulchral, sacrificial and memorial mounds. Owing to the state of the weather, the historian has been unable (as was done in Noble County) to make a personal examination of the mounds of LaGrange County. However, many of those which were opened in the past by citizens of the county, who were generally careless in their examinations, have been made to yield up a portion of their secrets. A number of years ago, two mounds were opened on Section 13, Milford Township. A quantity of crumbling human bones were taken from one of them, among them being a skull quite well preserved. Some of the teeth were almost as sound as they ever were, and the under-jaw, a massive one, was especially well preserved. In the other mound was found a layer of ashes and charcoal, extending over two or three square yards of ground. This was undoubtedly a mound where sacrifices were offered to the deity of the Mound builders, and where burial rites with fire were performed. On the line between Sections 20 and 29, Springfield Township, is what might have been a fortification. The writer carefully examined the spot which is the summit of a gradual elevation; but, although Mr. George Thompson indicated the position of the alleged circular embankment, only slight traces of it were visible, and these were apparently much the result of speculation. It may have been, however, as the old settlers assert, Near the center of the level space on the summit was a large mound, at least five feet in height, in 1836. This was opened about that time, and from it were taken enough bones to indicate that more than one person had been buried there. It is said that a few trinkets, such as slate ornaments or mica were found. In the same township, about a mild northwest of this spot, are one large mound and perhaps a smaller one. These, it is said, have not been seriously disturbed. On Section 27, Clay Township; are two mounds, large ones, which have not been subjected to exhaustive examination. The writer has been told that there are three mounds in the eastern part of Lima Township, on the farm of George Shafer. Three-quarters of a mile northwest of Lima, on the Craig farm, are three mounds, which were opened a number of years ago. The usual bones and charcoal were found, as were also various trinkets, which may be seen in the private collections of curiosities of Lima. About forty rods west of James Moony’s house, in Van Buren Township, are three mounds, all of which have been opened. Human bones, slate ornaments and other trinkets were found, as was also an abundance of ashes and charcoal.  There are also mounds in the vicinity of Buck, Shipshewana and Twin Lakes. The peculiar formation about Wall and other lakes is due to the agency of ice. It is thought by some that the Indians or Mound Builders were responsible for the embankment, but no one familiar with formations of the kind will make such a declaration. Such walls are very numerous on the banks of Western lakes, especially those of Illinois and Iowa. Around some of the lakes of the latter State is a continuous chain of boulders and gravel, which, by observation through some thirty years, was undoubtedly thrown up by the united action of ice and waves, and the process of freezing and thawing. This fact is well understood and universally admitted by geologists, in Iowa. It may be added that were other evidences in the county of the presence in past years of Mound Builders aside from their mounds. Reference is made to stone or other implements or ornaments. W.H. Duff and Master George Dayton, both of Lima, and Dr. Betts, of LaGrange, especially the former two, have fine collections of antiquities. Mr. Duff has nearly 300 specimens, and Master Dayton has over 400. These consist mainly of stone axes, mauls, hammers, celts, mortars, pestles, flint narrow and spear heads, copper knives, and cooper arrow or spear heads, fleshing and skinning instruments, ceremonial stones, shuttles, and various other implements evidently used in weaving or sewing, colored slate ornaments, breast-plates of bone, ornamental charms and totems, igneous stones, many curious varieties of arrowheads and darts, etc., etc. There have also been found in the county an extremely rare slate or stone ornaments or implements, bone and metallic ornaments, small fragments of pottery, mica (not native), curiously carved pipes stone or other substance, besides other articles, the uses of which are extremely doubtful. Much more might be said in detail on the same subject.

Geological Survey of Indiana, 1874

     The section of high, undulating, lake-dotted country, of which Lagrange county is a part, does not seem to have been the home, or even the haunt, of any considerable number of the Mound Builders. One small earthwork is all that is known in the county; that is on Brushy Prairie, in the eastern part. It is about fifty feet across, nearly circular and raised two feet above the surface of the prairie; near the center is a small mound, about eight feet in diameter and three feet high. An excavation made, in this central mound, some years ago, exposed decaying human bones, some broken pottery and a few stone implements.

Early Lagrange County Plat map showing the location of the circular work.  Additional circular works were reported in Dekalb and Steuben Counties.  Next to Springfield is Brushy Prairie, where the smaller work was located.  Both of these sites were investigated with no remains of these earthworks found,

Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879

       One mound, fifty feet base diameter, two feet high, near Brushy Prairie post office, human remains, potsherds, and flint implements about.