Jackson Mound
Encyclopedia
The Jackson Mound is a Native American mound in the south-central portion of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. Located north of Pancoastburg
in Fayette County
, it measures approximately 75 feet (22.9 m) in diameter and 5.5 feet (1.7 m) in height. The mound has never been excavated, making the certain identification of its builders impossible; however, its location on a high terrace above a relatively small stream suggests that it was built by the Adena culture
, which favored such sites for its many mounds. If such be true, it was originally more conical in shape (the mound's location in a farm field has resulted in its being damaged by years of plowing), and it is likely to cover the remains of a wooden charnel house
built by the Adena.
An archaeological survey performed in 1914 listed forty-two different mounds in Fayette County, but the Jackson Mound is the only one that has survived to the present day. For this reason, it is a significant archaeological site
. In recognition of its archaeological value, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in late 1975, being the county's only archaeological site to be accorded this distinction.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Located north of Pancoastburg
Pancoastburg, Ohio
Pancoastburg is a census-designated place in Madison Township, Fayette County, Ohio, United States. It is located at , along Ohio State Route 207, about 6 miles south of Mount Sterling, Ohio....
in Fayette County
Fayette County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,433 people, 11,054 households, and 7,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 11,904 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, it measures approximately 75 feet (22.9 m) in diameter and 5.5 feet (1.7 m) in height. The mound has never been excavated, making the certain identification of its builders impossible; however, its location on a high terrace above a relatively small stream suggests that it was built by the Adena culture
Adena culture
The Adena culture was a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 1000 to 200 BC, in a time known as the early Woodland Period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system...
, which favored such sites for its many mounds. If such be true, it was originally more conical in shape (the mound's location in a farm field has resulted in its being damaged by years of plowing), and it is likely to cover the remains of a wooden charnel house
Charnel house
A charnel house is a vault or building where human skeletal remains are stored. They are often built near churches for depositing bones that are unearthed while digging graves...
built by the Adena.
An archaeological survey performed in 1914 listed forty-two different mounds in Fayette County, but the Jackson Mound is the only one that has survived to the present day. For this reason, it is a significant archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
. In recognition of its archaeological value, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in late 1975, being the county's only archaeological site to be accorded this distinction.