America isn’t particularly rich with archaeological finds, not like countries such as Egypt or England, but we do have some magnificent treasures. Here in West Virginia, you need look no further than Moundsville.
In 1838, archaeologists began their first excavation of this Indian burial mound, built by the Native American people of the Adena culture. It is the largest of its kind in the world.
Burial mounds were an ancient method used by Native Americans to bury their dead. The Adena culture were the ones responsible for this particular mound at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville.
The Adena Culture is not the actual name of the people who built this and other mounds, but a name given to them in modern times.
In fact, historians do not know what these people called themselves. What they do know is that they lived during the Early Woodland period, which was a period of time from 800 B.C. to 1 A.D. The mound at Grave Creek was constructed in stages over a period between 250-150 B.C. The mound is 69 feet tall with a diameter of 295 feet. Originally, it was encircled by a moat 40 feet wide and five feet deep.
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The excavations that took place resulted in the displacement of 60,000 tons of earth so archaeologists could access the inner vaults. The artifacts that they discovered can be viewed in the adjacent Delf Norona Museum.
The museum displays contain a large amount of artifacts, and it also has several exhibits, so people visiting the mound can learn everything known about the Adena culture: their customs, their traditions, how they lived their lives and how they honored their dead.
Anyone who is fascinated by ancient cultures and civilizations may be pleased to know that you don't have to travel to other countries to view them; you just need enough gas for a drive to Moundsville in the Northern Panhandle. Once you arrive, you will find Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex at 801 Jefferson Avenue.
For more information about Grave Creek, including their hours and some informational videos, visit their website here. And if you want to view a lot of great pictures, check out their Facebook page here.
Have you ever been to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex? Feel free to comment below and tell us about your visit.
To learn more about ancient West Virginia, read about this lost river that once flowed through the state.
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