The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-23
Preservation of a Prehistoric
Monument in Ohio.
A CURIOUS ABORIGINAL RELIC
Great serpent Mound Park In Ohio Decided
Harvard CsIlese-Its Preservation from
Destruction By the Peabody Museam-A
Picturesque Memorial of Ancient Mound
Bailders-Prsf. Pmtnam's Ipyesiigatisps.


PEBBLES, Ohio. Oct ls.-By a recent vote
Of the Harvard Corporation, the treasurer
OF Harvard College has been authorized
to deed TO the Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society the Serpent Mound
Park. which for the last fourteen years
has been in the custody of the Peabody
Museum. in Cambridge, thus s-estoring TO
Ohio the ownership of the most remark
able and famous OF the thousands OF mon
uments Of the ancient Mound Builders
which exist within her borders.
The Great Serpent Mound lies in the
township Of Bratton, overlooking Brush
Greek, about seven miles from PEBBLES.
the nearest railway station. 1t had been
noted with wonder by the first settlers,
but it was not until 1916 that IL was meas
ured and described by Squier and Davis,
who published a report with drawings
from surveys in the first volume Of the
smithsonian Contributions to Knowl-
edge" The two explorers had found the
site of the mound covered by a forest.
Thirteen or fourteen years after their
visit a tornado swept directly along Ser
pent Hill. practically sweeping the forest
clear. This led to retaining the land
for cultivation, but in 1883 It had relapsed
TO state Of nature and was overgrown
with sumach and briers.
Pref. Pufuam's visit.
In that year Prof. Frederick w. Put
nam, curator of the Peabody Museum
and Peabody professor of archaeology and
ethnology at Harvard. visited the spot in
the course of trip which he was maxi
ing through Southern Ohio for the pur-
pose Of examining some of the best
known of the ancient monuments for
which this part of the State Is famous
throughout the world. He was able TO
make arrangements with Mr.. Lovett, the
owner of the land, to have the site cleared
of underbrush, SO that for the first time
in years the extraordinary character and
grandeur of the Great Serpent was APP
parent to visitors.
1t has been reckoned that no less than
1900 mounds and earthworks, built either
Oy the Indians or by the so-called pre-
historic" Inhabitants of the Mississippi
Valley, are included in the State of Ohio
alone. But the advance of cultivation,
the cupidity of seekers after the buried
treasures which are popularity supposed 10
be hidden under many of these works
and in some cases pure vandalism, have
put many, including, Of course, some OF
the most important. in jeopardy. An ex-
ample Of this last kind of destruction is
to be found at Marietta, where two great
entertainments, famous among students Of
American archaeology, have been partly
destroyed-one having been built upon
and In part leveled and the other made
into bricks. The destruction of the Mari
eta works seems ell the more to be re-
GREETED on account Of the contrast which
IL offers to the enlightened wisdom of
the pioneers, who, acting under the direc-
ton of the famous Rufus Putnam, had
utilized the two entertainments to form an
avenue which they named. in the classical
fashion of the day, the Via Sacra.
Preservation Of the Great Serpent.
On his return East, accordingly, Prof
Putnam Immediately took every oppor-
tunity to urge the Importance of preserv-
ing the Great Serpent. Visiting Adams
County again I'm 1885, he found that Its de-
struetion was inevitable unless immediate
measures were taken for its preservation.
He was able to secure a contract with the
owner that it should remain intact for a
year and a price for the absolute pur-
chase of the land was agreed upon. Going
back to Boston, he enlisted the aid of Miss
Alice c. Fletcher. well known for her not
able contributions to the knowledge OF In
dian life. Miss Fletcher, meeting in New
port a few Boston ladies, appealed to them
for support with so much effect that in
the winter of 1886 private circular was
issued, with the Endorsement OF the late
Francis Parkman, the historian of the
West, calling for subscriptions. AS re-
suit, a sufficient sum, amounting to about
SC, 900, was secured to buy such land as
seemed to be required for the purpose in
view and to take steps for the preserya-
ton of the Serpent, with provision for
making thorough excavations in the i'm
mediate neighbOrhood. In the end some
seventy-five acres OF land along the pike
leading from PEBBLES to Hillsborough were
purchased and the whole, under the name
Of the Serpent Mound Park. was transfer
red to the keeping Of the Peabody Museum
in trust
This movement not only saved the Great
Serpent itself, but was the cause OF slim
ulating Increased interest In the preserya-
ton OF the archaeological remains of Ohio
in general The general assembly, az the
suggestion Of Prof. NJ. C. Reed. OF Hud-
son, passed law in lSss exempting from
taxation lands in the State ''on which are
situated any prehistoric earthworks and
which may have been or may hereafter ne
purchased by any person. association. or
for the purpose OF preservation
OF said earthworks, and are not held for
profit, but are or shall be dedicated 10
public uses as prehistoric parks"
The Serpent Mound Park.
Prof. Putnam Immediately began work
RI, MT ha -
tanning IL In suitable condition as a pub-
lie pleasure ground. The conyolutions Of
the Serpent were outlined by gravel maths
50 that they might be followed from end
TO end without injury 10 the monument
Itself. In the southwest corner OF the
park pleasant picnic ground was ar
ranged. with spring OF water protected
by a substantial stone spTing-house. A
well-bui!t road leads diagonally across the
park, and the whole was put under The
care OF competent keeper The present
transfer 70 the Ohio Archaeological and
Historical Society IS In accordance. OF
course. with the principle that wherever
possible historical sites are more appro-
priately cared for by q local society
When the Peabody Museum took over the
property there was no such society avail
able. II came forward In an emergency
In the interest Of archaeological science in
this country. Its work having been doae.
IL retires in favor or the local society
which Is now ready 10 take I'D the task
where Il Is laid down. The society. in
deed, has for several years had the ac,ual
care % the park, and the present legal
transfe. is simply In confederation or rhe
Picturesque site.
Prof. Putnam's explorations in ,bs vt
cinity Of the Serpent Mound resulted q,
an extraordinary number OF finds gos,,
back from the latest Indian lima hi,sn,s
to very remote past. most interesting
account o. DIS Work In This direction may
be found In an article which he eon.-1.S
3ted 70 the Century Magazine some 49,.
ago. as well as In the reports OF the pea.
body Museum The site OF the ss,,.s.,
we'll agrees In SIS striking picturesouens"s
With the romantic ideas OF the Anertcsn |
ssTrt hzsesa