Serpent Mound

20 miles southeast of Hillsboro on St. Rt. 73 This giant Effigy mound is the largest and most mysterious mound in the United States. An effigy is something that is made to look like a living creature, and this is the largest such mound known. The Serpent is over 1 ¼ mile long and 20 feet wide, and averages 5 feet in height. It is believed to be a ceremonial mound, but no bones have ever been found in it. Other nearby mounds are clearly Adena, so the Serpent Mound was also labeled Adena. Adena artifacts were also found. It has an interesting shape in that has four coils just like a snake moving along the ground. The jaws are open: an oval shaped mound 30 feet by 86 feet is actually the mouth open for food. The design was first laid out of stone, then clay, and earth was placed on top. Why a snake? Ancient people often thought of snakes as gods some good, some bad. A preacher, Reverend Landon West, said, in 1902 that this was the site of a Garden of Eden and that God had raised up this serpent to remind the people not to sin. For many years the surrounding land was cultivated and the mound was partly destroyed. Professor Frederick Putam of Harvard talked the Peabody Museum, also of Harvard, into purchasing the land in 1887 for $5888 and restoring it. The money was raised by some women in Boston. Later, in 1900, the land was given to Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society. It is now a state park. The best view is from the top of the look-out-tower, for the shape can not be seen from the ground. Let the imagination wander. How did they plan it? What kind of ceremonies took place here? Was there a village nearby? How many people worked here?

Below is a picture of Serpent Mound



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