Old Maid's Orchard Mound facts for kids

The Old Maid's Orchard Mound is an ancient earth mound built by Native American people. It is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. You can find it near the village of Lithopolis in Fairfield County. The mound is inside Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, in northern Bloom Township.

What is the Old Maid's Orchard Mound?

The Old Maid's Orchard Mound is one of several burial mounds found east of Lithopolis. It sits in an area with small fruit trees and bushes. The mound is about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall. It has not changed much over a long time.

Farmers working nearby caused some damage to its northern side. Also, small animals like rodents have dug holes in it. But overall, the mound is still in good shape.

Who Built the Mound?

Archaeologists, who study ancient cultures, believe the mound was built by people from the Adena culture. They figured this out by looking at where the mound is and what shape it has. The Adena people lived in this area a very long time ago.

Adena mounds often cover burials or the foundations of old houses. They can also cover other things made by humans. This makes the Old Maid's Orchard Mound a very important archaeological site. It helps us learn about the Adena people.

Protecting History: National Register

Because of its importance, the Old Maid's Orchard Mound was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This is a special list of places that are important to American history.

It is one of five mound sites in Fairfield County that are on this list. The others include the Theodore B. Schaer Mound near Canal Winchester, the Tarlton Cross Mound near Tarlton, the Coon Hunters Mound near Carroll, and the Fortner Mounds near Pickerington.