"The group of five mounds in Central Park....once were in a series that covered a large area of what is now Ashland, [KY] and from the air would have resembled a string of beads."
A History of Ashland, Kentucky, 1786 to 1954
In this website you will learn where the mounds are located, the history of the Mound Builder Indians, and the purpose of the mounds. You will also learn about their tools, culture, village life, early archaeological excavations, and see some photos of actual mounds. You will learn the importance of preserving the mounds for future research and to provide a better understanding about the history of ancient people in the Ohio valley.
Archaeology
Interactivities
Credits
Adena mounds in Central Park, which are located in our city of Ashland, Kentucky
General History
You might've thought that 10,000 years ago there weren't any people roaming America because people say that America was the "New World." Everyone thought that there were only prehistoric people in Europe, Asia, and Africa. But archeologists have found that they weren't the only ones. They have discovered that there were 4 archeological time periods in the middle Ohio Valley (our region).
The first time period was Paleoindians from
10000 B.C.-7000 B.C.
The Archaic period was 7000 B.C.-1000 B.C., at the same time
over in Eygpt the Sphinx and the pyramids were being built.
Spear points from the archaic period. Courtesy of Dwight Cropper.
The third period was the Woodland period 1000 B.C.-1000 A.D. During this time they started to build mounds.
The Late Prehistoric period ranged from 1000 A.D. to 1795, at the same time Columbus discovered America.
For more information about these time periods visit our timeline.
Forest Home Farm Site Complex in Greenup and Lewis Counties, Kentucky. Courtesy of Dwight Cropper
During the Woodland period there were two groups of prehistoric people the Hopewell and the Adena.The Adena were named for an estate in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Hopewell were named for a farmer who lived in the same area. At both sites archeologists found Native American artifacts that gave clues to the existence of these communities.
Mounds
An ancient mound is a small hill of earth, sand, gravel, stones, artifacts, and debris. The types of mounds found in the Ohio Valley area include Burial, Effigy and geometric. Mounds were used by the Adena and Hopewell cultures of North America.
Burial Mounds
Burial Mounds are mounds that were used to bury people such as chiefs, shamans, and priests of the Adena and Hopewell cultures. They were buried with different items such as pottery, projectile points, beads, and pipes. Other lesser members of the tribe were cremated and placed into tiny log tombs that were then covered with dirt. The burial mounds were built in layers, which had corpses on each level. The mounds range in size from 20-300 feet in diameter and were cone shaped. Each family had there own burial mound.
An example of a burial mound is located in Moundsville, West Virginia. It was measured at 69 feet tall and 259 feet in diameter. This mound was built by the Adena culture. There was a ditch encircling the mound. It was 40 feet across and 5 feet deep. Engineers believed that it took 60,000 tons of dirt to construct this mound.
Effigy Mounds
Effigy mounds were built into shapes of animals like birds and bears.
Examples of effigy mounds are located in Adams County, Ohio, Chillicothe, OH and Boyd County, Kentucky. They are all in the shape of a snake. The purpose of Effigy mounds was for religious and social reasons. Scientists think that some of these mounds are somehow connected to a constellation and the summer and winter solstices.
Geometric Mounds
Geometric mounds were circular, square, and rectangular. An example of this type is located in South Portsmouth, Kentucky. Uses of the geometric mounds were for ceremonial purposes. Sometimes people from later periods buried their dead in the mounds. Archeologists call these intrusive burials.
Ashland Central Park
Located in the Northwest part of Central Park is a string of six small mounds, each approximately 4-5’ high. These mounds have NOT been excavated by archeologist and consequently their cultural affiliation is not know.
Directions: Follow U.S. route 60 (12 street) SW from U.S. route 23 (Winchester Avenue) in downtown Ashland for about .4 miles (5 blocks from Winchester Ave.) to Lexington Avenue, then SE on Lexington Avenue .5 miles to park entrance on NE side of street. Parking is available in park
Public Use: season and hours: The park is opened daily throughout the year during daylight hours. Recreation facilities: Picnic area, restrooms, playground, game fields, exercise course.
For additional Information: contact: Parks and Recreation Department, City of Ashland, Ashland, KY. 41101, 606-325-8571
"The group of five mounds in Central Park....once were in a series that covered a large area of what is now Ashland, [KY] and from the air would have resembled a string of beads."
A History of Ashland, Kentucky, 1786 to 1954
In this website you will learn where the mounds are located, the history of the Mound Builder Indians, and the purpose of the mounds. You will also learn about their tools, culture, village life, early archaeological excavations, and see some photos of actual mounds. You will learn the importance of preserving the mounds for future research and to provide a better understanding about the history of ancient people in the Ohio valley.
Archaeology
Interactivities
Credits
Adena mounds in Central Park, which are located in our city of Ashland, Kentucky
General History
You might've thought that 10,000 years ago there weren't any people roaming America because people say that America was the "New World." Everyone thought that there were only prehistoric people in Europe, Asia, and Africa. But archeologists have found that they weren't the only ones. They have discovered that there were 4 archeological time periods in the middle Ohio Valley (our region).
The first time period was Paleoindians from
10000 B.C.-7000 B.C.
The Archaic period was 7000 B.C.-1000 B.C., at the same time
over in Eygpt the Sphinx and the pyramids were being built.
Spear points from the archaic period. Courtesy of Dwight Cropper.
The third period was the Woodland period 1000 B.C.-1000 A.D. During this time they started to build mounds.
The Late Prehistoric period ranged from 1000 A.D. to 1795, at the same time Columbus discovered America.
For more information about these time periods visit our timeline.
Forest Home Farm Site Complex in Greenup and Lewis Counties, Kentucky. Courtesy of Dwight Cropper
During the Woodland period there were two groups of prehistoric people the Hopewell and the Adena.The Adena were named for an estate in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Hopewell were named for a farmer who lived in the same area. At both sites archeologists found Native American artifacts that gave clues to the existence of these communities.
Mounds
An ancient mound is a small hill of earth, sand, gravel, stones, artifacts, and debris. The types of mounds found in the Ohio Valley area include Burial, Effigy and geometric. Mounds were used by the Adena and Hopewell cultures of North America.
Burial Mounds
Burial Mounds are mounds that were used to bury people such as chiefs, shamans, and priests of the Adena and Hopewell cultures. They were buried with different items such as pottery, projectile points, beads, and pipes. Other lesser members of the tribe were cremated and placed into tiny log tombs that were then covered with dirt. The burial mounds were built in layers, which had corpses on each level. The mounds range in size from 20-300 feet in diameter and were cone shaped. Each family had there own burial mound.
An example of a burial mound is located in Moundsville, West Virginia. It was measured at 69 feet tall and 259 feet in diameter. This mound was built by the Adena culture. There was a ditch encircling the mound. It was 40 feet across and 5 feet deep. Engineers believed that it took 60,000 tons of dirt to construct this mound.
Effigy Mounds
Effigy mounds were built into shapes of animals like birds and bears.
Examples of effigy mounds are located in Adams County, Ohio, Chillicothe, OH and Boyd County, Kentucky. They are all in the shape of a snake. The purpose of Effigy mounds was for religious and social reasons. Scientists think that some of these mounds are somehow connected to a constellation and the summer and winter solstices.
Geometric Mounds
Geometric mounds were circular, square, and rectangular. An example of this type is located in South Portsmouth, Kentucky. Uses of the geometric mounds were for ceremonial purposes. Sometimes people from later periods buried their dead in the mounds. Archeologists call these intrusive burials.
