Ratcliffe Mound
Encyclopedia
The Ratcliffe Mound is a Native American mound in the southeastern part of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. Located in western Vinton County
, it lies to the east of the community of Londonderry
, at the bottom of a steep-walled valley. Sitting in the middle of a pasture
field near a stream, the mound is isolated in open countryside; the only nearby tree is a sycamore that grows atop the mound. The mound is a circular cone in shape, 14 feet (4.3 m) high and 86 feet (26.2 m) in diameter.
Unlike those of many Native American mounds, the identity of the Ratcliffe Mound's builders is unknown. Two cultures
from the Woodland period
, the Adena
and Hopewell, built large numbers of mounds in southeastern Ohio, and the Adena are known to have built a group of six mounds in the Vinton County village of Zaleski, but the Ratcliffe Mound lacks features that enable archaeologists to identify its builders. Neither of these two cultures typically built mounds in locations such as that of the Ratcliffe, and no identifiable artifacts
have been found in the vicinity of the mound, so no identification can be made in the mound's present state. Furthermore, no archaeological excavation has been conducted at the Ratcliffe Mound, so no artifacts have been recovered from it.
Despite the inability of archaeologists to classify the mound's origins, it is likely to be a valuable archaeological site
if investigated. In recognition of its archaeological value, the Ratcliffe Mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975.
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 in western Vinton County
Vinton County, Ohio
Vinton County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,435. , the least populous in the state. Its county seat is McArthur. The county is named for Samuel Finley Vinton, a 19th-century United States Congressman from...
, it lies to the east of the community of Londonderry
Londonderry, Ohio
Londonderry is an unincorporated community in eastern Liberty Township, Ross County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45647. It lies along U.S. Route 50 at its intersection with State Route 327....
, at the bottom of a steep-walled valley. Sitting in the middle of a pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
field near a stream, the mound is isolated in open countryside; the only nearby tree is a sycamore that grows atop the mound. The mound is a circular cone in shape, 14 feet (4.3 m) high and 86 feet (26.2 m) in diameter.
Unlike those of many Native American mounds, the identity of the Ratcliffe Mound's builders is unknown. Two cultures
Archaeological culture
An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place, which are thought to constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society. The connection between the artifacts is based on archaeologists' understanding and interpretation and...
from the Woodland period
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
, the Adena
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...
and Hopewell, built large numbers of mounds in southeastern Ohio, and the Adena are known to have built a group of six mounds in the Vinton County village of Zaleski, but the Ratcliffe Mound lacks features that enable archaeologists to identify its builders. Neither of these two cultures typically built mounds in locations such as that of the Ratcliffe, and no identifiable artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
have been found in the vicinity of the mound, so no identification can be made in the mound's present state. Furthermore, no archaeological excavation has been conducted at the Ratcliffe Mound, so no artifacts have been recovered from it.
Despite the inability of archaeologists to classify the mound's origins, it is likely to be a valuable 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,...
if investigated. In recognition of its archaeological value, the Ratcliffe Mound 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 1975.