Ormond Mound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ormond Mound |
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Location | Indian Mound Park, Volusia County, Florida |
Nearest city | Ormond Beach, Florida |
Governing body | City of Ormond Beach |
Type | Florida Historic Site |
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Ormond Mound is an ancient burial mound located in Ormond Beach, Florida. It was built long ago by Native American people known as the St. Johns culture. This special place is found in Volusia County, USA.
Discovering Ormond Mound
Ormond Mound is a very old burial site in eastern Florida. It is a large pile of earth built over ancient tombs. Today, it is a well-preserved historical site.
In 1982, the land owner wanted to remove the mound. They planned to build a house there. However, the local community was very upset. People wanted to protect this important historical place.
The community and the Volusia Anthropological Society worked together. They demanded that the mound be saved. Because of their efforts, the city bought the land. This made the mound a city park.
Who Built the Mound?
After the city bought the land, experts were hired. These archaeologists studied the mound. They wanted to find out who built it and why.
The archaeologists found that the mound was built by the Timucuan Indians. These people are also known as the St. Johns people. The Timucuan lived in this area long before European settlers arrived.
History of the Mound
Experts believe that over 100 people are buried in Ormond Mound. This estimate comes from studies done in 1982. As more bodies were buried, the mound grew larger. Sand and other materials were added over time. This gave the mound its unique shape.
Most of the burials happened after the year 800 AD. This was during the later part of the St. Johns period. People were often buried with their favorite items.
When the site was studied, many things were found. These included old tools and Indian beads. Spanish trading beads were also discovered. Many pieces of broken pottery were found too.
Near Ormond Mound, there was once a "charnel house." This was a special building. The St. Johns people used it to store bodies. They kept the bodies there before the final burial.
These charnel houses were usually separate from the main village. They were used to prepare important people for the afterlife. This shows how much respect the St. Johns people had for their dead.