Ramey Mound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ramey Mound
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ramey Road, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Sharpsburg, Kentucky |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000089 |
| Added to NRHP | February 12, 1998 |
The Ramey Mound (also known as 15BH1) is a very old and special place in Bath County, Kentucky. It's an archaeological site, which means it's a spot where scientists study the past. Long, long ago, a group of people called the Adena culture built this mound.
This site has been known for over 200 years! People first wrote about it in 1807. Back then, it was described as an "enclosure" – like a big, raised fence or wall made of earth – that was at least 3 feet (about 1 meter) high.
What Did Ramey Mound Look Like?
In 1871, another group of people surveyed the site. They found four smaller mounds near the main earthwork. One was just east, another west, a larger one to the southeast, and a small one to the southwest.
There's also a small stream that starts right inside the site and flows through the earth enclosure. The 1871 survey team thought that this stream's path might have been dug by the Adena people. They might have used the dirt from digging to build the enclosure itself.
Over many years, farming and plowing in the area caused the earthwork to wear down. By the time of the 1871 survey, it was already hard to see the original shape of the mound.
Studying the Ancient Site
The Kentucky Geological Survey, led by John Robert Procter, also looked at the Ramey Mound. They drew many earthworks in Bath County on their special topographic maps. These maps show the shape and features of the land.
Even though farming had damaged the mound, local people could still tell it was different from the land around it in 1932. The mound gets its name from Emma Ramey, who owned the land back then.
Why Ramey Mound is Important Today
In 1998, the Ramey Mound was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important to history or archaeology. The Ramey Mound was added because it's a very important archaeological site. It's actually the only archaeological site in Bath County that is on this national list!
Studying sites like the Ramey Mound helps us learn more about the ancient Adena culture and how people lived thousands of years ago in Kentucky.
