Anderson Mounds facts for kids

Anderson Mounds, located near Anderson, Indiana, are ancient earthworks that are part of Mounds State Park. These special places were built by the Hopewell culture long ago. They were created to honor the Sun God and Earth Mother. The mounds were used for important religious ceremonies. People also used them to observe how the sun and stars lined up.

The Great Mound: An Ancient Masterpiece

The Great Mound is the largest of the ten earthworks found in Mounds State Park. Its construction began between 250 and 160 B.C.

How the Great Mound Was Built

The Great Mound has three main levels or "floors." Each floor was made using a special process. First, a layer of subsoil was added. Then, the ground was burned. After that, a layer of powdered white calcite was spread over it. This calcite was made from bone, shell, and limestone. This process made the floor feel like clay and gave it a deep purple color.

Each floor had basins and pits. Their exact purpose is still a mystery. Near the entrance of the mound platform, a large pit was discovered. It contained many interesting items. These included chipped stone tools, small stone pieces, burned bone, a shell fragment, pieces of mica, and burned clay chunks.

Discoveries Inside the Mound

Above this pit, a special log tomb was built. It was called this because its floor was made of logs. When archaeologists explored the tomb, they found two human burials. One was an adult male, about 50 years old. The other was the partial remains of someone who had been cremated.

Many artifacts were also found in the tomb. These included a limestone pipe, more stone pieces, fire-cracked rocks, mica fragments, and pottery. There were also burned and unburned bones, and seven deer bone awls. Awls are pointed tools often used for making holes.

Building the Platform

About 100 years after the mound was started, the platform of the Great Mound began to be built. Even though it looks uneven, the embankment was carefully designed. The only other original features on the platform were many small post holes. These holes circled the top. They likely held a brush fence. This fence might have hidden sacred activities happening on the platform.

After the mound was finished, several more pits were dug. Some of these pits went from the surface all the way to the lowest floor. One pit might have been disturbed by people looking for treasures. Two other pits contained human burials. No other artifacts were found in these pits.

Uncovering History: Archaeological Discoveries

When archaeologists worked at the Anderson Mounds, they learned something important. The maps used since the late 1800s were not completely correct. Research showed that the earthworks were not accurately drawn on these old maps. This is important because it affects how we understand the site.

Archaeological studies of the park show that people have used this land for about 10,000 years. This began as early as 8000 B.C. and continued until about 1400 A.D.

Keeping the Mounds Safe

Given thousands of years of use, it is amazing how well-preserved the earthworks are. They are in excellent condition. Now that they are part of the state park, the big challenge is to keep them that way.

Other Important Features

One of the most common types of earthworks here is the circular earthwork. There are believed to be eight of these in the park. However, only four are still clearly visible today.

Another key feature is the "great mound." This mound is 350 ft (110 m) long, 60 ft (18 m) wide, and 10 ft (3 m) deep. This is the most noticeable mound in the park. Its large size makes it seem like there might be another smaller mound nearby. This smaller part is known as the "small knoll." This area was used for special rituals. In the past, some people caused significant damage to the artifacts and their layers in this area.

Estimates from radiocarbon dating suggest these rituals began around 250 B.C. Another interesting feature at this site is the fiddle-back enclosure. There is no proof of astronomical activities here. However, it marks the spot where the sun sets on the summer solstice.