Virginia is filled with fascinating points of interest that serve as important reminders that humans have inhabited these lands long before the arrival of colonial explorers. One prime example is Ely Mound, a unique earthwork in Virginia. This ancient burial mound is believed to have been created between the timeframe of 1200–1650 A.D. A couple of excavations have been performed on the site; however, there is much about the mound that remains a mystery. What is certain, however, is its significance in the story of Virginia. Here’s more on this fascinating landmark that relatively few people know about.

Tucked away in the beautiful town of Rose Hill, not far from the Kentucky border, awaits a noteworthy landmark known as the Ely Mound.
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This historical burial mound isn't far from the town's center, which is located within Lee County.
Brian Stansberry / Wikicommons
This scenic mountain town has a population of fewer than 1,000 residents.

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Ely Mound, which is named for the owner of the land when the mound was rediscovered in the 1800s, is one of the best-preserved examples in Virginia of a traditional burial mound.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
This man-made formation, which is sometimes referred to as an earthwork, is a remnant of what many archeologists believe to be the Late Woodland/Mississippian period.
Nyttend / Wikicommons
In the 1870s, an assistant curator of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Boston led an excavation at the site.
Daderot / Wikicommons
At that time, the mound measured 300 feet in circumference and 19 feet in height. Items that were unearthed included skeletons, pottery, and arrowheads made of white flint. When one of the workers was digging under the mound, a shaft collapsed, killing the man. The mound remained untouched until a second excavation was conducted in 2019 by the University of Mississippi.

Did you know about this fascinating burial mound and earthwork in Virginia? Have you ever seen it? Be sure to share your experiences with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! For related content, check out these incredible trails that lead to historical sites in Virginia.

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Rose Hill, VA 24281, USA