Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-11-01

are not held for profit, but are or shall
be dedicated to public uses as prehis-
toric parks
rrof. Putnam Immediately began
work to put the mound and the new
park containing i. in suitable
condition as public pleasure ground.
The convolutions of the Serpent were
outlined by gravel paths, so that they
might be followed from end to end
without injury to the monument itself.
In the southwest corner of the park a
pleasant picnic ground was arranged,
with spring of water protected by a
substantial stone spring-house. A well
built road leads diagonally across the
park, and the whole was put under the
care of competent keeper The
present transfer to the Ohio Archaeo-
logical and Historical society is in ac-
cordance, of course, with the principle
that wherever possible historical sites
are more appropriately cared for by a
local society. When the Peabody
museum took over the property there
was no such society available. 1t
came forward in an emergency, in the
interest of archaeological science ia
this country It's work having been
done, it retires in favor of the local
society which is now ready to take up
the task where it is laid down. The
society, indeed, has for several years
had the actual care of the park, and
the present legal transfer is simply in
confederation of the custodianship.
Prof. Putnam's explorations in the
vicinity of the Serpent Mound resulted
in an extraordinary number of finds,
going back from the latest Indian in
habitants to very remote past. A
most interesting account of his work
in this direction may be found in an
article which he contributed to the
Century Magazine some years ago, as
we'll as in the reports of the Peabody
museum. The site of the serpent well
agrees in its striking picturesqueness
with the romantic ideas of the Ameri-
can Indian which have come down to
us with many an early novel and tale
of exploration and adventure in the
great west. Adams county is one OF
the most beautiful in the state. 1t re-
minds the visitor more of New Eng.
land in it's Irregularities of hill and
dale than of the more level and sweep
ing country west of it. Serpent hill,
as one looks up toward it from the cul-
tivated meadows on the hither side Of
Brush creek, rises steep and woody to
a height of nearly hundred feet. 1t
ic ont hor fAl14xtyir,er he
of the river below it, and the bold turn
to the northwest is crowned by sheer
cliff of bare rock which slopes to a
point like the nose of some monstrous
animal On the back of this rocky
spur is the serpent itself, opening its
huge jaws as if to swallow the great
hollow oval or egg before it. The body
winds in broad graceful curves down
to the coiled tail at the end. There
have been few observers who have not
been impressed with the remarkable
grandeur of the mound and the rude
but strong art which stretched it along
the level of this striking promontory
to be monument of prehistoric man
on this continent, as may now be
hoped, for all ages to come. The state
of Ohio may well be proud that it pos
sesses it and grateful to the disinter-
ested efforts of the scientists who were
the means of preserving it.
1t seems to be generally agreed by
archaeologists that the mound was
erected for ceremonial and symbolic
purposes, and was not connected with
the idea of sepulture. In the center of
the egg-shaped oval is heap of
stones showing the effect of fire. This
altar (if such it isl was once much
larger than now, having been broken
up some sixty years ago in some
search for buried treasure. The oval
is 100 feet long by so feet wide, and
about four feet high. From the end
of the oval to the tip of the tail is a
distance of 496 feet in an air line, but
134S feet if measured from the end OF
the oval to the neck of the serpent and
then along all the convolutions of the
body. From the tip of the upper jaw
to the end of the tail the serpent itself
width of the body is about 20 feet and
it's height along the head and body
from four to five feet. From the be-
ginning of the tail it gradually de-
creases in width and height until it
terminates in bank about foot high
and not more than two feet wide.
Professor Putnam's excavations have
disclosed the fact that the serpent was
erected with great care. Where the
slope of the ground indicated possible
insecurity in the outlines, the work
was strengthened with stones, or with
clay mixed with ashes.
The Peabody museum in Cambridge
retains memorial of it's now termin-
ated connection with this great mont
ment of the past in the shape of very
beautifully executed model of the park
which it formerly owned, done by
Wards natural science establishment
in Rochester. New York, under the SUI
pervision of Prof Putnam from sur
veys by c. Cowen. II measures six
feet six high by four feet eight inches.
The contour of the land is shown most
Interestingly in green, with it's forests
and cliffs and cultivated land and
E2rt,cb oraaly A1xwin1