Zaleski Mound Group
Encyclopedia
The Zaleski Mound Group is a collection of three burial mounds
in the village of Zaleski
, Ohio
, United States
. Built by people of the prehistoric Adena culture
, these earthworks
are valuable archaeological site
s.
. Located in a community park by the entrance to the forest, the mound is tree-covered with few changes from its original state. At a height of 14.4 feet (4.4 m), it is the largest mound in the Zaleski Mound Group.
In the 1850s, local residents dug into the mound and placed a cold cellar
on its northern side; in the process, they uncovered a skeleton that was given into the possession of a local doctor. The changing needs of the state forest led the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
to remove the cellar in 1959; after the intrusion was taken out of its place, the mound was restored to its original shape. In spite of the digging needed to create the cellar, the Ranger Station Mound is the best-preserved of the mounds in the Zaleski Group. No archaeological excavation has ever been carried out at Mound No. 3, the Methodist Church Mound, but it has possibly been damaged by the construction of a fence line. Due to its size and location, the Ranger Station Mound may contain more valuable artifacts
than either of the other two mounds.
. Measuring 60 feet (18.3 m) long and 53 feet (16.2 m) wide, it is only slightly more than 7 feet (2.1 m) tall. At the time of white settlement, it may have been taller; the presence of a fence across the top suggests that the activity of settlers may have reduced it.
Located immediately behind the Zaleski United Methodist Church
, it may be the most valuable of the six mounds that originally composed the Zaleski Mound Group. Three of the six have been destroyed, while both the Ranger Station Mound and the Markham Mound have been disturbed since the time of white settlement. As the Zaleski Methodist Church Mound shows little evidence of damage, it presumably contains the grave goods
that were originally buried within.
: Mound 2 on May 3, and the others on July 15. All three received this designation because they were seen as important archaeological sites for understanding the Adena people that built them. The three mounds that have been destroyed were not listed, because archaeological sites that have been greatly disturbed are not eligible for inclusion on the Register. The Register also includes one other archaeological site in Vinton County
and one building in Zaleski: a mound near Londonderry
known as the "Ratcliffe Mound
," and the Masonic Lodge No. 472
respectively.
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...
in the village of Zaleski
Zaleski, Ohio
Zaleski is a village in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 375 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have risen to 399 by 2009.-History:Six Native American mounds, built by the prehistoric Adena culture, were once located at Zaleski...
, 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...
. Built by people of the prehistoric 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...
, these earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
are 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,...
s.
Mound 1, Ranger Station
The largest of the three Zaleski mounds, the Ranger Station Mound is a conical structure located within the bounds of Zaleski State ForestZaleski State Forest
Zaleski State Forest is the second-largest state forest in the U.S. state of Ohio, located primarily in Vinton County, with areas in Athens County as well. The 28,000 acre forest surrounds Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, and extensively borders the Waterloo Wildlife Research Station in...
. Located in a community park by the entrance to the forest, the mound is tree-covered with few changes from its original state. At a height of 14.4 feet (4.4 m), it is the largest mound in the Zaleski Mound Group.
In the 1850s, local residents dug into the mound and placed a cold cellar
Root cellar
A root cellar is a structure built underground or partially underground and used to store vegetables, fruits, and nuts or other foods.-Construction:Common construction methods are:...
on its northern side; in the process, they uncovered a skeleton that was given into the possession of a local doctor. The changing needs of the state forest led the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 by the Ohio Legislature. It is a government agency in the U.S. state of Ohio charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, and recreation areas.Divisions of ODNR...
to remove the cellar in 1959; after the intrusion was taken out of its place, the mound was restored to its original shape. In spite of the digging needed to create the cellar, the Ranger Station Mound is the best-preserved of the mounds in the Zaleski Group. No archaeological excavation has ever been carried out at Mound No. 3, the Methodist Church Mound, but it has possibly been damaged by the construction of a fence line. Due to its size and location, the Ranger Station Mound may contain more valuable 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"...
than either of the other two mounds.
Mound 2, Markham
The Markham Mound is a privately owned structure. Despite its proximity to the other two mounds, no evidence is present of any ancient village site near the mound.Mound 3, Methodist Church
The Zaleski Methodist Church Mound is a wide, low mound in the shape of an ellipseEllipse
In geometry, an ellipse is a plane curve that results from the intersection of a cone by a plane in a way that produces a closed curve. Circles are special cases of ellipses, obtained when the cutting plane is orthogonal to the cone's axis...
. Measuring 60 feet (18.3 m) long and 53 feet (16.2 m) wide, it is only slightly more than 7 feet (2.1 m) tall. At the time of white settlement, it may have been taller; the presence of a fence across the top suggests that the activity of settlers may have reduced it.
Located immediately behind the Zaleski United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, it may be the most valuable of the six mounds that originally composed the Zaleski Mound Group. Three of the six have been destroyed, while both the Ranger Station Mound and the Markham Mound have been disturbed since the time of white settlement. As the Zaleski Methodist Church Mound shows little evidence of damage, it presumably contains the grave goods
Grave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...
that were originally buried within.
Recognition
In 1974, the three mounds were listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
: Mound 2 on May 3, and the others on July 15. All three received this designation because they were seen as important archaeological sites for understanding the Adena people that built them. The three mounds that have been destroyed were not listed, because archaeological sites that have been greatly disturbed are not eligible for inclusion on the Register. The Register also includes one other archaeological site in 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...
and one building in Zaleski: a mound near 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....
known as the "Ratcliffe Mound
Ratcliffe Mound
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...
," and the Masonic Lodge No. 472
Masonic Lodge No. 472
The Masonic Lodge No. 472 is an Italianate building in Zaleski, Ohio that was built in 1884. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000....
respectively.