Serpent Mound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Great Serpent Mound
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The Great Serpent Mound
ancient Native American effigy |
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Peebles, Ohio |
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000602 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Great Serpent Mound is a huge, snake-shaped earthwork in Ohio. It is about 1,348 feet (411 meters) long and three feet (90 cm) high. This amazing prehistoric mound sits on a high flat area in Adams County, Ohio. It is located near the Ohio Brush Creek.
The Serpent Mound is cared for by the Ohio History Connection. It has been named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical site in the United States. It is the largest snake-shaped earthwork in the world.
Contents
What is the Great Serpent Mound?
The Serpent Mound is a long, winding earthwork shaped like a snake. It stretches for about 1,376 feet (419 meters). Its height changes from less than a foot to over three feet (30–100 cm). The mound is also about 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.6 meters) wide.
The snake's body follows the natural curves of the land. Its head points towards a cliff above a stream. The serpent winds back and forth with seven coils. It ends in a tail that coils three times.
The mound was built using layers of yellowish clay and ash. These layers were strengthened with rocks. Then, the entire structure was covered with soil. The snake's head has an open mouth. This mouth surrounds a 120-foot (37-meter) long oval shape. Some people think this oval looks like the snake eating an egg. Others believe it might represent the sun.
Who Built the Serpent Mound?
Archaeologists are still trying to figure out who built the Serpent Mound. They also want to know exactly when it was built. The mound itself does not contain any artifacts or burials. These items usually help scientists determine the age of such sites.
There are two main ideas about who built the mound. One idea is that the Adena culture built it around 320 BC. The other idea is that the Fort Ancient Culture built it around 1070 AD. Scientists continue to study and debate these theories.
The Adena Culture Theory
For a long time, researchers thought the Adena culture built the mound. The Adena people lived from about 1000 BC to 100 AD. There are Adena graves located near the Serpent Mound. This made scholars believe the Adena people were the builders.
In 2017, a new study used carbon dating on charcoal samples. These samples were found in parts of the mound that were not damaged. The study suggested the mound was built between 381 BC and 44 BC. The average date was 321 BC.
Scientists think that later people might have repaired the mound around 1070 AD. This would explain why some newer charcoal was found in earlier studies.
The Fort Ancient Culture Theory
In 1996, a team of archaeologists found charcoal pieces in the mound. They used carbon dating on these pieces. Two of them dated to about 1070 AD. This suggests the mound might have been built by the Fort Ancient culture. This culture lived from 1000 to 1750 AD.
However, one piece of charcoal was much older. It dated back to about 2900 years ago. This older date fits with the early Adena culture or even before.
It's possible that the Fort Ancient people built the mound. Or, they might have simply fixed it up for their own use. Like how people today fix up old houses. The rattlesnake was an important symbol for the Mississippian culture. This culture was connected to the Fort Ancient people. However, the Serpent Mound does not have a rattle shape.
The Fort Ancient culture usually buried many artifacts in their mounds. But the Serpent Mound does not contain any. This makes it different from other Fort Ancient sites.
Why Was the Serpent Mound Built?
Astronomical Connections
Many researchers believe the Serpent Mound has connections to the sky. Its shape might have been used to track the sun and moon. In 1987, Clark and Marjorie Hardman found something interesting. The oval shape at the serpent's head lines up with the sunset during the summer solstice.
Other researchers have suggested that the coils of the serpent's body point to other important events. These include the winter solstice sunrise and the equinox sunrises. If the mound was used to track both the sun and moon, it would show advanced knowledge of astronomy.
Some people wonder if the mound was built around 1070 AD. If so, it might have been influenced by two big sky events. One was a supernova in 1054. This explosion of a star created the Crab Nebula. The other was the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1066. The supernova was so bright it could be seen during the day.
The Serpent Mound's Location
The Serpent Mound is built on a very special spot. It is located on the site of an ancient meteorite impact. This means a meteorite crashed there millions of years ago.
Scientists have studied rock samples from the site. They found that the impact happened about 248 to 286 million years ago. This was during the Permian Period. Over millions of years, erosion has completely worn away the original crater. But the rocks still show signs of the impact.
Recent History and Preservation
The Serpent Mound was first mapped by European-Americans in 1815. In 1846, two men named Ephraim G. Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis surveyed it. Their book, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, described the mound in detail. This book was published by the Smithsonian Institution.
Saving the Mound
The book about the Serpent Mound interested many people. One person was Frederic Ward Putnam from Harvard University. He saw that farming and building were damaging many ancient mounds in Ohio. In 1886, Putnam raised money to buy 60 acres (24 hectares) of land at the Serpent Mound site. This helped protect the mound. The land also included other ancient mounds and a burial site.
The land was first owned by the Peabody Museum. In 1900, it was given to the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. This group is now called the Ohio History Connection. Today, the Arc of Appalachia Preserves system helps manage the Serpent Mound.
After some damage in 2015, more security cameras and gates were added to protect the site.
Exploring the Mound
After buying the land, Frederic Ward Putnam returned to the site in 1886. He spent four years digging and studying the Serpent Mound. He also explored two nearby cone-shaped mounds. After his work, Putnam carefully rebuilt the mounds to look like they did originally.
One of the cone-shaped mounds had a main burial from the Adena period. Putnam also found other burials and ancient artifacts nearby. In 2011, more digging was done before new utility lines were installed. Scientists found more artifacts and ash. This ash dated to the Fort Ancient period. This suggests that the Fort Ancient people might have used the area for ceremonies.
Serpent Mound Museum
In 1901, an engineer named Clinton Cowan surveyed the land. He created a detailed map of the Serpent Mound and nearby areas. Cowan also discovered the unique meteorite impact structure where the mound sits. He found that the mound is built where three different soil types meet.
In 1967, the Ohio Historical Society opened the Serpent Mound Museum. It was built near the mound. A path was made around the mound for visitors. The museum teaches about the mound's shape, how it was built, and the area's geology. It also has exhibits about the Adena culture.
The Serpent Mound State Memorial is now managed by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. This group works to protect nature and ancient sites in southern Ohio.
Images for kids
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Map of Fort Ancient from 1848
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Fort Ancient tools found in Maysville, KY
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The curvature of The Serpent Mound
See also
In Spanish: Serpent Mound para niños
