Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Mound facts for kids
The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Mound is an ancient Native American mound. It's located near Dayton in Greene County, Ohio. This special place is on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which is why it has that name. It's an archaeological site, meaning it's a place where scientists study human history.
Quick facts for kids |
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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Mound
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Looking toward the mound from Huffman Prairie
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Located along P St., about 1 kilometre (3,300 ft) south of the Wright Brothers Memorial, west of Fairborn |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001015 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
Contents
What is the Wright-Patterson Mound?
This mound is a large, rounded pile of earth. It sits on a high area above flat land. The mound is about 86 feet (26 meters) wide. It is also a bit more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall.
It is located about 0.62 miles (1 kilometer) south of the Wright brothers memorial. That memorial is on Huffman Prairie. The mound is officially known as 33GR31.
Who Built This Mound?
Scientists believe the mound was built by people of the ancient Adena culture. The Adena people lived in southwestern Ohio a very long time ago. They were here between 500 BC and AD 400.
Near the surface of the mound, there are pieces of limestone. This might mean the Adena people covered the mound with limestone. Over time, wind and nature likely covered the stone with soil. This soil now forms the outside of the mound.
Exploring the Mound
In 1972, the mound was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical and archaeological sites. The mound was added because it is very important for understanding history. It was the fourth place in Greene County to be put on this list. Other places included Huffman Prairie and two earthwork sites at Indian Mound Reserve.
Even though it's important, the mound has never been fully dug up by archaeologists. This is called an excavation. However, in 1996, scientists used special tools to study it. These tools use geophysics, which is like using physics to study the Earth.
What Did Scientists Find?
The scientists used tools like ground-penetrating radar. This tool sends signals into the ground to see what's underneath. They hoped to find out if there were buried bodies. They also wanted to learn about the soil inside the mound.
They found signs of the mound's stratigraphy. This means they saw different layers of soil. These layers can tell us how the mound was built over time. They also found signs of other unknown things, called features, inside and around the mound.
If scientists dig up the mound in the future, they hope to learn more. They want to understand the death customs of the Adena people. They also want to learn about their daily life.
