Lake Ridge Island Mounds
Encyclopedia
The Lake Ridge Island Mounds (also known as the Wolf Mounds I-IV) are a group of small hills in Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
that have been thought to be Native American mounds
. Located in an area of about 5 acres (2 ha) at the northern end on Lake Ridge Island in Indian Lake
, the mounds are near the village of Russells Point
in the southeastern corner of Stokes Township
. State Route 368 passes a short distance to the east of the mounds, even weaving at one point to avoid them. The four mounds on the island are small, not reaching a height greater than 3 foot (0.9144 m) or a diameter greater than 40 feet (12.2 m); they are small enough that they appear to be natural knolls. A report produced in the 1970s observed that the mounds were in "excellent" condition at the time, never having been disturbed by artifact seekers.
An archeological survey of Logan County, published in 1914, revealed a cluster of mounds on the southeastern shore of Indian Lake, but no mounds on Lake Ridge Island were observed by the survey. Typical of the mounds studied in the survey is the Dunns Pond Mound
, located in the community of Moundwood a short distance south of Lake Ridge Island; it is significantly larger than the Lake Ridge Island Mounds. The 1970s report highlighted the mounds as possible archeological sites, stating that they resembled small Hopewell mounds known elsewhere in Ohio and proposing that they were constructed by small groups of Hopewell who were isolated by time or distance from centers of Hopewell influence. As small mounds, they were assessed as being potentially significant for revealing the origins and demise of the Hopewell in the midwestern United States
. For this reason, the mounds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a historic district
in 1974, along with the Dunns Pond Mound; they are the only historic district in Logan County. In nominating the mounds for listing, the Ohio Historical Society noted the mounds' location within Indian Lake State Park as being significant for archeological education: it was hoped that visitors to the park would become aware of the significance of the mounds and consequently seek to preserve archeological sites on their own properties.
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that have been thought to be Native American mounds
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. Located in an area of about 5 acres (2 ha) at the northern end on Lake Ridge Island in Indian Lake
Indian Lake (Ohio)
Indian Lake is a reservoir in Logan County, western Ohio, in the United States. It is approximately 20 mi southeast of Lima...
, the mounds are near the village of Russells Point
Russells Point, Ohio
Russells Point is a village located in Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,619 at the 2000 census. It is situated on Indian Lake.-Geography:Russells Point is located at ....
in the southeastern corner of Stokes Township
Stokes Township, Logan County, Ohio
Stokes Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,367 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northwestern corner of the county, it borders the following townships:...
. State Route 368 passes a short distance to the east of the mounds, even weaving at one point to avoid them. The four mounds on the island are small, not reaching a height greater than 3 foot (0.9144 m) or a diameter greater than 40 feet (12.2 m); they are small enough that they appear to be natural knolls. A report produced in the 1970s observed that the mounds were in "excellent" condition at the time, never having been disturbed by artifact seekers.
An archeological survey of Logan County, published in 1914, revealed a cluster of mounds on the southeastern shore of Indian Lake, but no mounds on Lake Ridge Island were observed by the survey. Typical of the mounds studied in the survey is the Dunns Pond Mound
Dunns Pond Mound
The Dunns Pond Mound is a historic Native American mound in northeastern Logan County, Ohio, United States. Located near Huntsville, it lies along the southeastern corner of Indian Lake in Washington Township...
, located in the community of Moundwood a short distance south of Lake Ridge Island; it is significantly larger than the Lake Ridge Island Mounds. The 1970s report highlighted the mounds as possible archeological sites, stating that they resembled small Hopewell mounds known elsewhere in Ohio and proposing that they were constructed by small groups of Hopewell who were isolated by time or distance from centers of Hopewell influence. As small mounds, they were assessed as being potentially significant for revealing the origins and demise of the Hopewell in the midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. For this reason, the mounds were 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...
as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in 1974, along with the Dunns Pond Mound; they are the only historic district in Logan County. In nominating the mounds for listing, the Ohio Historical Society noted the mounds' location within Indian Lake State Park as being significant for archeological education: it was hoped that visitors to the park would become aware of the significance of the mounds and consequently seek to preserve archeological sites on their own properties.
Further reading
- Koleszar, Stephen C. An Archaeological Survey of Southwestern Ohio. ColumbusColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
: Ohio Historical Society, 1970.