- Ohio History in 2000 Words
- Mound Builders
- Native Ohioans
- The Ohio Company
- Ohio's Wood Forts
- Indian Wars
- War of 1812
- Ohio's Canals
- Ohio's Road
- Scenic Railroads / Museums
- Underground Railroad
- Civil War in Ohio
Located in Montgomery County, on the south side of Dayton is the Miamisburg Mound State Memorial. This conical mound is the largest conical mound in Ohio at a height over 65'. It is also the 2nd largest conical mound in eastern North America. Is is thought to be part of the Adena Culture in the Early Woodland Period.
The Miamisburg Mound State Memorial is visible from several miles away because it stands atop a 100' high ridge above the Great Miami River. Many earthworks and mounds in Ohio, like the Miamisburg Mound, are near moving water.
The Miamisburg Mound is a burial mound, and 877' in circumference at the base and covers approximately 1-1/2 acres. It has been estimated to contain 54,000 cubic yards of earth. It is believed that those people interred in it were placed there over a long period of time. With each burial, additional soil and rocks were added to the mound. Persons of influence appeared to have been buried in much smaller mounds with a significant number of artifacts and ornaments suggesting the person was of particular honor in their society.
1847 Wood Cut Illustration of Miamisburg Mound
There were once an estimated 10,000 American Indian mounds and earthworks in the central Ohio Valley. today, about 1,000 of those landmarks have survived through private landowners, local and state, and federal agencies dedicated to preserving these ancient ruins.
Many of the mounds that have been saved were of the conical variety and most of those have never been professionally investigated to determine their contents or age. Ones that have been investigated were determined to have been created 2,000 to 2,800 years ago.
It was thought that the mound was built in successive layers over multiple generations. When a leader died, they created a wood hut that contained the body. That hut would then be set ablaze and then covered over with a layer of soil. With each death, the mound grew taller and wider.
Around 400 AD, the people that created these mounds and earthworks, disappeared from Ohio. What happened to them remains a mystery that will probably never be resolved. Steps have been built to the top observation platform so visitors can climb the 116 steps for a wonderful view of the area.
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