Serpent Mound, Ohio
A giant mound shaped like a snake stretches for 1,348 feet across the hills of Adams County, Ohio. Native Americans created this enormous earthwork between 800 BCE and 1070 CE and remains the largest serpent effigy in the world. Here are some interesting to know about this ancient treasure.
The First Scientific Documentation in 1848
Two researchers named Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis mapped the snake in 1848. They measured every curve and bend of the massive earthwork for the Smithsonian Institution.
Their book, “Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley,” brought the first scientific attention to the site.
At first, they wondered if the serpent was somehow linked to Egypt, Greece, or China, showing how puzzling they found this American treasure.
Rescuing the Mounds from Destruction
By 1885, farmers had started plowing parts of the mound. Harvard archaeologist Frederic Putnam knew he had to act fast to save it.
He convinced wealthy patrons from Boston to help him buy the 60-acre site in 1886. Putnam then dug trenches through the mound but found no artifacts inside the serpent.
The Serpent Mound Construction
Over the years, experts have pieced together how the Serpent Mounds came to be.
The ancient builders carried soil one basket at a time to shape the serpent, over which they layered clay and ash then added rocks to strengthen the structure.
They paid careful attention to the details, including the coiled tail, winding body, and oval head of the design.
The Great Debate Over Who Built It
For years, experts thought the Adena people built the serpent around 800 BCE, because Adena burial mounds stood nearby.
Then in 1991, scientists tested charcoal from the mound and dated it to around 1070 CE, during the Fort Ancient period.
More tests in 2014 pushed the date back to 321 BCE. Now most archaeologists think the Adena built it first, with Fort Ancient people continuing the work later on.
The “Lost Coil” Discovery
In 2014, researchers found a hidden curve near the serpent’s head that nobody knew existed, since it was placed underground.
This “lost coil” had been erased before the final design was finished, which signifies that design plans had changed somewhere along the process. The reason is still unknown.
Celestial Connections Between Earth and Sky
If you stand at the serpent’s head during the summer solstice, you’ll see the sun set right where the snake seems to be looking. This is no accident.
The tail points to where the winter solstice sun rises, and the three main curves in the body might mark the equinox sunrises and moonrises.
The Cosmic Event That May Have Inspired Construction
In 1054 CE, a supernova event happened, and it was so bright people could see it during daytime for two weeks.
This happened during the time when Fort Ancient people would have been working on the Serpent Mount. They built on a meteor crater and may have shaped their work to honor this event.
The Great Mystery of the Oval
The serpent’s mouth holds a large oval shape that stretches 120 feet with perfect 10-foot-wide edges on both sides. No one knows exactly what this shape means.
Some think it’s an egg the snake is eating. Others say it’s the snake’s eye, the sun, a frog, or a platform for ceremonies.
Shawnee Reconnection to Their Sacred Heritage
In 2021, Shawnee tribal members visited Serpent Mound for the first time since the government forced them out of Ohio in the 1830s. The Ohio History Connection officially invited them back.
The Shawnee people have a Snake Clan and stories about serpents in their traditions. When tribal members walked the mound, they described feeling like they were coming home to a place their ancestors had built and cared for.
The Fight for International Recognition
Serpent Mound joined the list of places being considered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008. If approved, it would rank with the Pyramids and Great Wall of China.
The U.S. already named it a National Historic Landmark. Preservationists work to protect it from damage, while fighting against false claims that aliens or giants built it rather than Native Americans.
Visiting Serpent Mound
You can find Serpent Mound at 3850 State Route 73 in Peebles, Ohio. When you visit, be sure to climb the observation tower for the best view. The museum explains what you’re seeing, and walking paths let you follow the entire snake.
Try to come during the summer solstice to see the sunset alignment that has amazed visitors for thousands of years.
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