Miamisburg Mound
Miamisburg Adena Mound · Mound State Memorial
Early Woodland Adena 1000–200 BCE·Adena·🇺🇸 Ohio, Montgomery County, United States
About
About Miamisburg Mound
Second-largest conical mound in Ohio (65 ft/20 m high, 877 ft circumference) and tallest surviving Adena mound, preserved at Miamisburg Mound State Park. Built in staged basketloads with central burial pit; 19th-century excavations partially collapsed shaft but confirmed Adena construction. Adjacent earthwork remnants and spring alignment suggest ceremonial landscape.
Why it mattersLargest extant Adena mound in Ohio Valley; demonstrates continuity of Adena mound-building tradition preceding Hopewell.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether original height was 70 ft before erosion
- 02Function as signal/platform vs purely funerary
Theories
- 01Territorial marker controlling Great Miami River terrace
- 02Astronomical sightline to Hopewell enclosures 30 km east
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1000–200 BCE
- Period
- Early Woodland Adena 1000–200 BCE
- Culture
- Adena
- Purpose
- Conical burial mound and lookout/platform at 939 ft elevation overlooking Great Miami River valley
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1000–200 BCE
Initial construction
200 BCE
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
39.6276° N · 84.2809° W · 277 m · 2 mapped features
Summit observation platform
summitModern summit overlook on ancient apex, original burial pit below
39.6277° N · 84.2808° WBasal burial pit
burial chamberCentral Adena burial shaft documented in 1869 excavation
39.6275° N · 84.2809° W
Gallery