MOUND CITY GROUP National Monument • Ohio THE By about 500 B.C. the A "VI OTIT The Hopewell are best prehistoric Indians we now t s TT-^.T-vTy^i known for their high HOPEWELL call Hopewell had O 1 lA-IN D1IN Kj artistic achievements and developed a distinctive /o fMr c ce f PEOPLE culture in the Middle PREHISTORIC ; 7 " ° West. For perhaps 1,000 years these people flourished; erecting earth mounds their cultural zenith being here in the Scioto Valley of I IN DILVIN overdead the remainsFro of theirih ra southern Ohio. But by about A.D. 500 the Hopewell CULTURE , - :k :f -l culture had faded. Hundreds of years later European ordinary wealth or burial settlers found only deserted burial mounds and offerings found in the mounds, archeologists have learned ceremonial earthworks to hint at this vanished culture. a great deal about these prehistoric people. They were excellent artists and craftsmen and worked with a great variety of material foreign to Ohio. Copper from the Lake Superior region was used for earspools, headdresses, breastplates, ornaments, EFFIGY PIPE OF STONE ceremonial objects, and tools. Stone tobacco pipes were Since Mound City was WITH INLAID SHELL beautifully carved to represent the bird and animal MOUND CITY primarily a ceremonial life around them. From obsidian they made COPPER BREASTPLATE — 1800 center for the dead, delicately chipped ceremonial blades. Fresh-water much of the information pearls from local streams, quartz and mica from the YEARS obtained from it Blue Ridge Mountains, ocean shells from the 6 M und CH G produced a great many spectacular objects, most concerns the burial EXPLORATION^ ° \ T interesting of which were a large number of stone AGO Gulf of Mexico, grizzly bear teeth from the West—all es customs of the people. T__ " within a rectangular were used in making the beautiful and elaborate tobacco pipes. Many were realistically carved in the The site of each mound was originally occupied by a /\l\l \_J earth enclosure of offerings buried with the dead. Pottery of excellent ac es images of birds, animals, and human heads. These wooden structure which was the scene of the last workmanship was made; and even woven fabric of bark EXCAVATION ^ " [ , objects, first acquired by the Blackmore Museum in rites. After a period of use, this structure, a mortuary England, were later transferred to the British Museum, and other wild vegetable fibers has been found, within which are located temple, was burned. London, where they remain today. preserved through contact with copper objects. Animal KJ r 24 burial mounds. The Perhaps this burning was an attempt at purification, bone was used extensively, and wood must have been MOUND CITY earth walls of the During the First World War the area comprising or perhaps it was to allow the spirit of the dead to important in the manufacture of implements and utensils. enclosure vary in height Mound City wa~> incorporated into Camp Sherman, a escape to the spirit world. Afterward, a mound was The Hopewell Indians apparently lived in small from 3 to 4 feet, with an entrance or gateway on both large training center. In 1920 and 1921, after Camp erected over the separately cremated bones, and "killed" villages near rivers and streams. Some of their villages the east and west sides. The largest mound of the Sherman had been razed, the Ohio Historical Society or broken offerings of precious objects were left with may have been some distance from their mounds; group was described by early explorers os 77'/2 feet conducted extensive excavations at the site. These the dead. This was a considerable task when one sites such as Mound City served chiefly as ceremonial high and 90 feet in diameter, but today it is somewhat supplemented the information secured by Squier and remembers the simple tools and equipment used by the centers. It is believed that they knew how to raise smaller. All the mounds are dome-shaped with the Davis. A few years later the society restored the Indians. Using only digging sticks or hoes of shell or corn and probably had simple gardens. Their diet was exception of one which is elongated and one which is earthworks according to the best information available animal shoulder blades, the Indians scraped up the augmented by hunting animals and gathering wild fruits nearly conical. Just outside the enclosure are two and developed the tract into a State memorial. The earth, carried it in baskets or skins, and dumped it, and vegetables. Though their culture was widespread, additional mounds and several depressions from 1920-21 excavation brought to light many interesting load by load, on the slowly growing mound. Only a and they made use of materials obtained by trade which the Indians removed material for the details of the construction and purpose of the mounds small percentage of the Hopewell dead were buried in and travel in distant parts of North America, construction of the wall and mounds. and yielded many fine artifacts typical of the Hopewell mounds, an honor possibly accorded only to the evidence of their remains suggests that they The site was mapped and partially excavated in 1846 culture. Examples of objects now on display in the priests or persons of high rank. were a peaceful and more or less sedentary people. by two pioneer archeologists, E. G. Squier and Ohio State Museum at Columbus are shown in the Archeologists discovered, in excavating Mound City, Possibly this peaceful and sedentary existence was E. H. Davis. The results of their extensive survey of accompanying illustrations. that they were not the first to disturb these one of the reasons for the disappearance of their culture. prehistoric earthworks, Ancient Monuments of the Recent excavations have revealed further information ancient remains. In many of the mounds intrusive burials Perhaps they were harassed by more warlike tribes. Mississippi Valley, appeared in 1848 in the first about the mounds and their ancient builders. A more of a later people were found, accompanied by It is possible their cultural pattern changed in publication of the then newly founded Smithsonian accurate restoration of many parts of the site has been artifacts distinct from those of the Hopewellians. emphasis, allowing them to abandon these religious Institution. Although many of the mounds had been made possible under the new program of archeological This group of Indians had found the mounds a centers. But whether the end of this colorful way of life noticed by early explorers, the work of Squier and Davis research. The work proves that Mound City is still a convenient and suitable place for the burial of their dead. was due to conquest, disintergration from within, or a was the first detailed study of the prehistoric structures great storehouse of information about the long vanished Again no connection between these Indians and tribes in the Mississippi Valley and is a milestone in archeology. combination of factors, the Hopewell culture flowered Hopewell people. MICA EAGLE CLAW living in historic times can yet be made. The excavations at Mound City by Squier and Davis for many years before passing from the scene. The National Monument is Southern Ohio is very 4. MOUND OF THE PIPES ABOUT located on the west bank of NEARBY rich in prehistoric Indian Here, in 1846, E. G. Squier YOUR the Scioto River, 3 miles POINTS sites. Among those set and E. H. Davis found many stone pipes which they VISIT north of Chillicothe on aside as State memorials described as follows: "The bowls of most of the pipes Ohio 104. All highways OF under the custody of the are carved in miniature figures of animals, birds, passing through Chillicothe junction with this route. Ohio Historical Society reptiles, etc. All of them are executed with . The monument is open all year except Christmas INTEREST are Fort Ancient, Fort exquisite skill." Casts of some of these pipes are Day. There are no entrance or use fees charged. Hill, Miamisburg Mound, Newark Earthworks, Seip exhibited in the visitor center. Organized groups may receive special services; Mound, and Serpent Mound. 5. CREMATORY advance arrangements should be made You can see historical and archeological exihibits in This mound contained the crematory with the superintendent. the Ross County Historical Society Museum in for the Mound of the Pipes. From Labor Day until June 1 the visitor center is Chillicothe. Many objects excavated at Mound City are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; from June 1 to Labor Day, at the Ohio State Museum in Columbus. 6. DEATH MASK MOUND from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are no facilities for This was described by early overnight stays at the monument. Lodging and camping A T^ilV/f TXTTC ®n ^arc^ 2' f^23, the explorers as being JV'/T. fset in height and 90 feet in facilities are available in Chillicothe and in nearby State CALJL\lLL\ JLO- 13-acre mound area, with diameter. W. C. Mills and H. C. Shetrone here discovered parks. Pets must be on a leash while in the monument TRATION , the surrounding an unusual feature—o sunken room containing a crematory and are not permitted inside the visitor center. property, was established basin with 13 burials. Many years later, R. F. Baby, by Presidential proclamation as Mound City Group of the Ohio State Museum, put together the fragments National Monument. It now contains 67.50 acres. of one of the skulls and found that they were the upper The National Park System, of which this area is a part of a mask possibly worn by a shaman, or priest, unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and to personify Death.