Crigler Mound Group facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Crigler Mound Group Archeological Site
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | Crigler Cemetery |
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| Nearest city | Florida, Missouri |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000115 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1969 |
The Crigler Mound Group is a special archaeological site in Missouri, a state in the United States. It is located in the Salt River valley, not far from Mark Twain Lake. These ancient burial mounds are very important. Because of their history, they have been named a historic site.
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What Are the Crigler Mounds?
The Crigler Mound Group is made up of seven large mounds. They are found on a high hilltop. This spot is about 1,500 feet north of the original Salt River. The entire group of mounds stretches for almost 500 feet. They are located in and around the Crigler Cemetery, near the village of Florida.
How Were the Mounds Built?
Most of the mounds are made only of earth. However, one mound also contains a lot of rocks. The mounds are lined up in a straight row. They point in a northwest direction.
Exploring Each Mound
Let's look at some of the mounds:
- Mound No. 1: This mound is at the southern end. It is a circle about 23 feet across. It stands about 4 feet high. There is a small dip in the middle.
- Mound No. 2: This one has a flat top. It is a circle measuring about 48 feet wide. It is about 4.5 feet tall.
- Mound No. 3: This mound is about 39 feet wide and 2 feet high. It is the only one partly made of rock. It also has a dip on top, like Mound No. 1. Experts in the 1960s thought this dip meant something inside the mound had fallen in.
- Mound No. 4: This is a larger mound. It is about 90 feet long and 55 feet wide. It stands 8 feet high. Small animals have made holes in its side.
- Mound No. 5: This mound is about 40 feet across. It is 4 feet tall. Its top is mostly flat and slightly sunken.
- Mound No. 6: This mound is 32 feet wide and 2 feet high. It also has a flat top with a slightly sunken center.
- Mound No. 7: This mound was about 32 feet wide and 2 feet high. But a road was built, and most of this mound was removed. Only about a quarter of it is left today.
When the road was built, no bones or artifacts were found. No other digging has been done at the site in a very long time.
Why Are These Mounds Important?
The Crigler Mound Group is very important for understanding history. On May 21, 1969, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States. The mounds were recognized for their archaeological value.
This site was one of the first two places in Monroe County to be listed. The other was the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, which was listed on the same day.
