The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-06-17
THE GREAT SERPENT MOUND.


The subject of archaeology is attracting
more and more attention. Several Years
ago Ohio formed an organization to prose-
cute historical research and preserve all the
records and historic specimens that the
State Historical Society might be able to
obtain. For lack Of interest on the part of
the people in general throughout the State,
the Society soon became extinct, and much
Of the labor and money already spent,
seemed to have been exorted in useless
cause. But sister States kept pIodding
onward until their Investigations and labors
assumed massive proportions. The State
of Kentucky in 1873 succeeded in starting
an archaeological society through the labors,
interest, and appropriations Of an English
man by the name Of James Wolmald, thus
allowing foreign born citizen to carry OFF
the honor This society became a State
institution in 1877, at which time it was
chartered and permanently located at Mays
vile. That society has done much in tho
way of investigating tho remains Of the
works so widely scattered over the NIissis-
sippi Valley Lake Region and other por-
tions of the United States.
No State has a better field for investipa-
tions and study in this respect than Ohio.
Our State has at least twelve thousand
mounds, eight thousand Of which are very
marked in their features and deserve more
than q passing notice. It is thought that
the Great Serpent Mound in Adams county
is the only eiligy molnd in existence in
any State. 1t is surely the most interesting
mound in the State of Ohio, and yet not
one-half of the people of Highland Pike
and Adams counties know of it. Many of
the persons living within mile or two of
it, have not examined it,
We give below an article taken from the
Winchester Sentinel, written short time
since by Prof j. P Mclean, Of Hamilton,
Ohio. The account of his investigations
and surveys will prove exceedingly inter
osting to the reader. We have made some
study of the subject and investigated some
Of these objects freighted with historic in
terost and may, in future issues of the
NEWS, give accounts of our researches.
The following is Prof. McLeaus descrip-
ton of this remarkable earthwork:
The series of efigy works, known under
the name of "Ihe Great Serpent Mound"
is located ON the land of j. j. Lovett, entry
1910 Brattain township, Adams county,
Ohio The entire surrounding country is
hilly, and the soil is poor, save n narrow
| strip of land bordering Brush Creek There
is a good solid roadway leading from Sink
ing Springs to Locust Grove, and passing
within three miles of tho works All the
other roads are rough, hilly and bear but
few indications of ever having been worked.
These lands have received the storm of
centuries, and instead Of having received
the benefit of the age Of ice, were washed
| by the water as it poured forth from the
terminal Morain which passes through the
northern part Of the township brush
| CreelI) Immediately north of Brattain.
| Hence the whole face Of the country pre-
sents O continued series of hillsand ravincs.
with great knobs of Pike and Highland
counties for q background
1 first visited the works during the
month of June, 1888, i'm company with
| Prof, A. b. French We did not 90 to
| make an examination, but simply sight
seeing During the month Of May. 1884.
assisted by Rev. Jacob Tenor, L made a
| survey Of the whole work by the direc-
ton Of the Bureau of Ethuology, i'm COM
pauy with II. d. Cridor, @. u. Supt. Of
| Hamilton city, (O.) waterworks, I made
another survey, Oct 20, 1884. We were
accompanied by Mrs. Mclean, who made
an oil painting of it for the Bureau.
AS my first survey differs so little from
| the second here follow the notes made ON
the spot. The works are located, for the
most part, on a tongue of land which may
be likened to crooked finger. The SPUR
is formed by the junction of q ravine with
the main branch of Brush Greek, and rises
to a height Of about one hundred feet
above the latter In form it is irregular on
the surface, and bent crescent shaped, with
tho point resting towards the northwest.
On the east, the hill is steep, has a swelling
curve, and admits of cultivation. On Inc
west it is cOncave, and formerly was culu-
waited one-third way down the declivitv.
When first discovered the whole was
covered with forest trees In 1860 tbe
trees were blown down by q hurricane.
For several years after, the land, for the
most part, was cultivated, but the efigies
bear no trace Of ever having been disturbed
by the plow
The works are neither bold nor massive.
and arc so located as not TO be seen until
one is upon them. Even a view can not be
obtained from the adjacent hill to the north