Description: The Serpent Mound, containing three parts, extends approximately 1,370 feet ((420m) and varies in height from less than a foot to three feet. It conforms to the land where it rests with its head approaching a cliff above a stream and its body winds back and forth over eight hundred feet with seven coils. It's tail ends in a triple coil. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct 15, 1966. The serpent has an open mouth extending around the east of a 120 foot-long hollow oval feature. Some scholars theory is that the oval feature is an egg, the sun, the body of a frog, or the remnant of a platform. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F10_013
Subjects: Serpent Mound State Memorial (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Peebles (Ohio); Adams County (Ohio)
 

Description: Aerial photograph of Serpent Mound, taken by the Ohio Historical Society Division of State Memorials in 1940. 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 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. Serpent Mound may be a representation of these beliefs. The head of Serpent Mound is aligned to 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. Serpent Mound is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA6560AV_B06_F10_01
Subjects: Great Serpent Mound (Ohio); Earthworks (Archaeology); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); American Indian history and society; Mounds--Ohio--Adams County
Places: Adams County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Aerial view of Serpent Mound largest serpent effigy mound in the world near Fort Hill Adams County" The Serpent Mound, containing three parts, extends approximately 1, 370 feet ((420m) and varies in height from less than a foot to three feet. It conforms to the land where it rests with its head approaching a cliff above a stream and its body winds back and forth over eight hundred feet with seven coils. It's tail ends in a triple coil. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct 15, 1966. The serpent has an open mouth extending around the east of a 120 foot-long hollow oval feature. Some scholars theory is that the oval feature is an egg, the sun, the body of a frog, or the remnant of a platform. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B10F05_001_001
Subjects: Serpent Mound State Memorial (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Adams County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a portrait of Warren K. Moorehead sitting in chair. Warren K Moorehead was born of missionary parents in Siena, Italy on March 10, 1866. His mother died early in his life. His father remarried and moved the family to Xenia, Ohio where he was the head of a Presbyterian seminary. Moorehead became interested in archaeology as a boy, He excavated sited in Licking County and the Muskingum Valley. In 1894, he became the first curator of the Ohio Historical Society. He died on January 5, 1939 and was buried near his family in Xenia, Ohio View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06876
Subjects: Archaeology--United States--History; Ohio Historical Society; Fort Ancient culture--Ohio
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: These two photographs show visitors at Fort Ancient earthworks near Oregonia, Ohio. Fort Ancient, an earthworks featuring 18,000 feet of earthen walls, was built 2,000 years ago by Hopewell Indians who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler, clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system for these peoples. Early settlers believed the mounds were fortifications, leading to the naming of the site "Fort Ancient." It is part of the Ohio Historical Society's system of historic sites. The photographs shown here measures 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.78 cm). In Ohio, the Hopewell Indians (100 B.C.-A.D. 500) built burial mounds and large earthen enclosures in geometric shapes (circles, squares, and octagons) to mark the places where the people gathered periodically to participate in many social and ceremonial events. Some of these sites were quite large--the Newark Earthworks complex extends over a 4-square-mile area. The Hopewell people also maintained a large trade network extending as far as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, the Florida coast and Appalachians, and northern Lake Superior. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3240_4412157_001
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Oregonia (Ohio); Lebanon (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: These four postcards document scenes at Fort Ancient earthworks near Oregonia, Ohio. Fort Ancient, an earthworks featuring 18,000 feet of earthen walls, was built 2,000 years ago by Hopewell Indians who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler, clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system for these peoples. Early settlers believed the mounds were fortifications, leading to the naming of the site "Fort Ancient." It is part of the Ohio Historical Society's system of historic sites. The postcards measure 3.5" x 5" (8.89 x 12.7 cm). In Ohio, the Hopewell Indians (100 B.C.-A.D. 500) built burial mounds and large earthen enclosures in geometric shapes (circles, squares, and octagons) to mark the places where the people gathered periodically to participate in many social and ceremonial events. Some of these sites were quite large--the Newark Earthworks complex extends over a 4-square-mile area. The Hopewell people also maintained a large trade network extending as far as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, the Florida coast and Appalachians, and northern Lake Superior. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3239_4412123_001
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Oregonia (Ohio); Lebanon (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Long, narrow biface knife tapers to a point at each end. It is made of flint that is gray and very dark gray in color. Item was found in Lake County, Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07311
Subjects: Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; American Indian history and society; Archaeology; Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Lake County (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: These four photographs document Fort Ancient earthworks near Oregonia, Ohio. Fort Ancient, an earthworks featuring 18,000 feet of earthen walls, was built 2,000 years ago by Hopewell Indians who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler, clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system for these peoples. Early settlers believed the mounds were fortifications, leading to the naming of the site "Fort Ancient." It is part of the Ohio Historical Society's system of historic sites. The photographs shown here measure 4" x 6" (10.16 x 15.24 cm). In Ohio, the Hopewell Indians (100 B.C.-A.D. 500) built burial mounds and large earthen enclosures in geometric shapes (circles, squares, and octagons) to mark the places where the people gathered periodically to participate in many social and ceremonial events. Some of these sites were quite large--the Newark Earthworks complex extends over a 4-square-mile area. The Hopewell people also maintained a large trade network extending as far as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, the Florida coast and Appalachians, and northern Lake Superior. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3241_4416767_001
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Oregonia (Ohio); Lebanon (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Fort Ancient, an earthworks featuring 18,000 feet of earthen walls, was built 2,000 years ago by Hopewell Indians who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler, clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system for these peoples. Early settlers believed the mounds were fortifications, leading to the naming of the site Fort Ancient. The two photographs shown here measure 8" x 10" (20.32 x 25.4 cm). In Ohio, the Hopewell Indians (100 B.C.-A.D. 500) built burial mounds and large earthen enclosures in geometric shapes (circles, squares, and octagons) to mark the places where the people gathered periodically to participate in many social and ceremonial events. Some of these sites were quite large--the Newark Earthworks complex extends over a 4-square-mile area. The Hopewell people also maintained a large trade network extending as far as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, the Florida coast and Appalachians, and northern Lake Superior. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3174_3928614_001
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650); Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Oregonia (Ohio); Lebanon (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Scene depicting a Late Prehistoric/Fort Ancient village in the Miami River Valley. Modeled after the SunWatch Prehistoric village site along the Great Miami River south of Dayton, Ohio, inhabitants can be seen performing traditional summer tasks in what would have been a fairly permanent village. These activities include thatching roofs made of bundles of prairie grass and repairing the stockade fence with fire-hardened posts meant to slow the process of decay. Late Prehistoric people relied heavily on a predictable food supply including corn, beans, and squash, which can be seen outside the stockade. At the center of the village, a group seems to be discussing community matters with the guidance of elders. This painting comes from the "Ancient Ohio" art series, a series of six artworks showing the major archaeological periods from Ohio history. Each painting in the series is based on extensive research and consultation with experts and American Indian scholars. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05218
Subjects: Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; American Indian history and society; Fort Ancient Culture (A.D. 1000–1650)
Places: Miami River Valley; Ohio
 

Description: Workers Morgan and Koons sitting at the Barracks Building at Fort Ancient. Fort Ancient is a series of earthen embankments that extend for more than three-and-a-half miles around a high bluff along the Little Miami River in Warren County, Ohio. It was built by the Hopewell culture between 100 B.C. and A.D. 400. Although it is called a "fort," it probably never served as a defensive work. Ditches are located inside the walls rather than outside as might be expected if it was an actual fort. Also, there are more than 60 gateways in the enclosure, which would have made it difficult to defend against enemies. Fort Ancient is a National Historic Landmark. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08004
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient culture; Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Worker Ellis at the Barracks Building at Fort Ancient. Fort Ancient is a series of earthen embankments that extend for more than three-and-a-half miles around a high bluff along the Little Miami River in Warren County, Ohio. It was built by the Hopewell culture between 100 B.C. and A.D. 400. Although it is called a "fort," it probably never served as a defensive work. Ditches are located inside the walls rather than outside as might be expected if it was an actual fort. Also, there are more than 60 gateways in the enclosure, which would have made it difficult to defend against enemies. Fort Ancient is a National Historic Landmark. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08005
Subjects: Fort Ancient (Ohio); Fort Ancient culture; Earthworks (Archaeology); Hopewell Culture (A.D. 1-400) (A.D. 1–400); State parks & reserves; Mounds--Ohio--Warren County
Places: Warren County (Ohio)