Oak Mounds facts for kids

The Oak Mounds are two ancient mounds built by people long ago. These special earthworks are found near Clarksburg, West Virginia, in Harrison County, West Virginia. One mound is quite large, and there's a smaller one to its west.

What Are the Oak Mounds?

These mounds are like big, round hills made of earth. They were probably built by a group of ancient people called the Hopewell culture. These people lived in eastern North America a very long time ago, between the years 1 and 1000 CE. The Hopewell people were known for building many mounds.

The bigger of the two Oak Mounds is about 12 feet (around 3.6 meters) tall. It's also about 60 feet (around 18 meters) wide. These mounds were likely used as special burial places for important people in the Hopewell culture.

Discovering the Mounds

Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, have not fully dug up these mounds. This means there might still be many secrets hidden inside them! However, some digging in 1969 found interesting things. They discovered tools made of flint, pieces of pottery, and even the bones of two people.

These finds help us understand more about the people who built the mounds. The site is thought to be from around 100 BCE, which was during a time called the Woodland period.

Finding the Oak Mounds Site

There's a historical sign near the mounds on West Virginia Route 98. It's close to the Veterans Administration Hospital. However, the sign has a small mistake! It says the mounds are "Directly to the east," but they are actually to the west. They are on the other side of the West Fork River.

This sign helps people know about the mounds, even with its little error. It reminds us of the fascinating history hidden in the land around us.