Description: Two images show a human effigy pipe created by the prehistoric Adena culture, who lived in the Ohio Valley between 800 B.C. and 100 A.D. The second image, taken during excavation of Burial 21 of the Adena Mound in Ross County in 1901, shows the pipe in the ground, partially covered. In the first image, the details of the tube pipe are visible. Made from pipestone, this large, anthropomorphic tube pipe is in the form of a man standing upright, wearing a patterned loincloth, earspools and a feather bustle. He has a swelling on his throat that may represent a goiter. His head and torso are large in comparison to his legs, suggesting to some that he represents a dwarf, although this may only reflect artistic convention. The mouthpiece has a small hole in a semicircular projection at the top of the head. The bowl of the pipe is located between the figure's feet. The front, or ventral face, is light yellowish brown and much of the back, or dorsal face, is yellowish red. The pipe, which is also called Adena Man or the Adena Pipe, measures 1.97 by 2.60 by 7.87 inches (5 by 6.6 by 20 cm) and is held in the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Collection. As of 2013, it is recognized as the state artifact of Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1289_793634_001
Subjects: American Indians in Ohio; Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Adena Mound; Archaeology; Ohio state symbols; Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400)
Places: Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Human effigy pipe also called the Adena Man or the Adena Pipe, from the Adena culture, Early Woodland period, 500 BC-1 AD. This photograph shows the pipe being excavated from Burial 21, Adena Mound, Ross County, in 1901. The object, which measures 1.97 by 2.60 by 7.87 inches (5 by 6.6 by 20 cm), is held in the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Collection, and is now recognized as the state artifact of Ohio. Tubular pipes such as this one were common in the Adena culture (800 B.C. - A.D. 1), although effigy pipes are unusual, rendering this particular pipe very unique. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00258
Subjects: Ross County (Ohio); American Indians in Ohio; Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Adena Mound; Ohio state symbols; Effigy pipes
Places: Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Three images showing a human effigy pipe created by the prehistoric Adena culture, who lived in the Ohio Valley between 800 B.C. and 100 A.D. Made from pipestone, this large, anthropomorphic tube pipe is in the form of a man standing upright, wearing a patterned loincloth, earspools and a feather bustle. He has a swelling on his throat that may represent a goiter. His head and torso are large in comparison to his legs, suggesting to some that he represents a dwarf, although this may only reflect artistic convention. The mouthpiece has a small hole in a semicircular projection at the top of the head. The bowl of the pipe is located between the figure's feet. The front, or ventral face, is light yellowish brown and much of the back, or dorsal face, is yellowish red. The pipe, which is also called Adena Man or the Adena Pipe, measures 1.97 by 2.60 by 7.87 inches (5 by 6.6 by 20 cm) and is held in the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Collection. As of 2013, it is recognized as the state artifact of Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: A1200_10_AP_01
Subjects: American Indians in Ohio; Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Adena Mound; Archaeology; Ohio state symbols; Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400)
Places: Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Serpent Mound is a spectacular effigy earthwork of a serpent uncoiling along a prominent ridgetop in northern Adams County, Ohio. From the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, the effigy is 1,348 feet long. When it was originally described in 1848, the body of the serpent was five feet high and 30 feet wide. Excavations between 1887 and 1889 by Frederic Putnam, of Harvard University's Peabody Museum, revealed the structure of the earthwork, but Putnam did not find any artifacts that revealed the age or cultural affiliation of the mound. Until recently, archaeologists assumed that Serpent Mound was built by the Adena culture (800 B.C. to 100 A.D.) since two Adena burial mounds are located nearby. Yet Putnam also discovered traces of a village of the Fort Ancient culture (1000 A.D. to 1650 A.D.) near the Serpent. Excavations conducted in 1991 recovered charcoal that returned radiocarbon dates suggesting that the Fort Ancient people built the mound between about 1025 A.D. and 1215 A.D. Serpents are a common feature in the art of the Late Prehistoric Period (900 A.D. to 1650 A.D.). Many American Indians of the Eastern Woodlands believed the Great Serpent was a powerful spirit of the Underworld, and it is believed that Serpent Mound may be a representation of these beliefs. The head of Serpent Mound is aligned with the setting sun on the summer solstice and the coils may be aligned to the summer and winter solstice and equinox sunrises. These alignments support the idea that Serpent Mound had a ceremonial purpose for its creators. Frederic Putnam saved Serpent Mound from destruction. On his urging, funds were raised for Harvard University to purchase the site. Later, the ownership was transferred to the Ohio Historical Society. Serpent Mound is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Serpent Mound State Memorial is located 20 miles south of Bainbridge in Adams County. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC804_SerpentMound_01
Subjects: Great Serpent Mound (Ohio); Earthworks (Art)--United States; American Indian history; Earthworks (Archaeology); Mounds--Ohio--Adams County; Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Adams County (Ohio);
 

Description: Serpent Mound is a spectacular effigy earthwork of a serpent uncoiling along a prominent ridgetop in northern Adams County, Ohio. From the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, the effigy is 1,348 feet long. When it was originally described in 1848, the body of the serpent was five feet high and 30 feet wide. Excavations between 1887 and 1889 by Frederic Putnam, of Harvard University's Peabody Museum, revealed the structure of the earthwork, but Putnam did not find any artifacts that revealed the age or cultural affiliation of the mound. Until recently, archaeologists assumed that Serpent Mound was built by the Adena culture (800 B.C. to 100 A.D.) since two Adena burial mounds are located nearby. Yet Putnam also discovered traces of a village of the Fort Ancient culture (1000 A.D. to 1650 A.D.) near the Serpent. Excavations conducted in 1991 recovered charcoal that returned radiocarbon dates suggesting that the Fort Ancient people built the mound between about 1025 A.D. and 1215 A View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC804_SerpentMound_02
Subjects: Great Serpent Mound (Ohio); Earthworks (Art)--United States; American Indian history; Earthworks (Archaeology); Mounds--Ohio--Adams County; Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Adams County (Ohio);
 

Description: William J. Baer's portrayal of Serpent Mound from the northwest, converted into an engraving for Century Magazine. Known as Great Serpent Mound, it is nearly a quarter mile long with an average height of 4-5 feet and a width of 20-25 feet. This large serpent effigy sits atop a plateau overlooking the Brush Creek Valley. The mound is thought to date to the Fort Ancient culture (AD 1000-1550). William Jacob Baer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 29, 1860. Baer was well known for his miniature paintings which helped revive the art of miniature painting in America. He died in East Orange, New Jersey in 1941. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02912
Subjects: Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); Great Serpent Mound (Ohio); Earthworks (Art)--United States; American Indian history; Baer, William J. (William Jacob), 1860-1941
Places: Adams County (Ohio)