Why is the Grave Creek Mound so important?
Why is the Grave Creek Mound so important?
The most impressive and largest Adena mound, Grave Creek Mound is the largest conical type of any of the mound builder structures. To gain entrance to the mound, two horizontal tunnels and one vertical shaft were created. This led to the most significant discovery of two burial vaults.
What was found buried in the Grave Creek Mound?
These two shafts intersected at a second burial chamber, containing a single burial, discovered June 9, 1838. Among the artifacts reported were 1700 ivory beads, 500 sea shells, and five copper bracelets.
Where is the Grave Creek Mound?
This remarkable mound of earth stands on the east bank of the Ohio 12 miles below Wheeling and about 700 paces from the river, as the land is not cleard the mound is not visible from the river—this mound gives name to two small creeks called little and big grave creek which passing about a half a mile on each side of …
How old is the Grave Creek Mound?
2,000 years old
Grave Creek Mound was the largest and is over 2,000 years old. Approximately 57,000 tons of earth had to be transported by baskets manually to construct it. Core samples taken during Hemmings’ 1976 excavation provided evidence the mound was created between 250-150 B.C.
What is the largest conical mound in the United States?
the Grave Creek Mound
At 69 feet (21 m) high and 295 feet (90 m) in diameter, the Grave Creek Mound is the largest conical type burial mound in the United States.
Is the Grave Creek disk real?
The Grave Creek Stone is a small sandstone disk inscribed on one side with some twenty-five characters, purportedly discovered in 1838 at Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville, West Virginia.
What is the largest mound in the United States?
Monks Mound
The largest mound at the Cahokia site, the largest man-made earthen mound in the North American continent, is Monks Mound (Mound 38). It received its name from the group of Trappist Monks who lived on one of the nearby mounds.
How tall is Grave Creek Mound in West Virginia?
Construction of the mound took place in successive stages from about 250-150 B.C. In 1838, road engineers measured its height at 69 feet and its diameter at the base at 295 feet. The site is also home to the State of West Virginia’s Archaeological Collection.
How old is the wvdchgrave Creek Mound Museum?
A massive undertaking, the total effort required the movement of more than 60,000 tons of earth. Artifacts and exhibits interpreting the lifestyle of the Adena people are displayed in the Delf Norona Museum, adjacent to the 2,000 year old mound.
What kind of artifacts are in Grave Creek Mound?
They often were buried in the flesh and more important people were laid to rest with a variety of artifacts such as flint tools, beads, pipes and mica and copper ornaments. Grave Creek Mound is of the late Adena Period and was built in successive stages over a period of 100 years or more.
When did the Grave Creek archaeological complex open?
Grave Creek Archaeological Complex also maintains a 136-seat theater with a small stage. The Museum The Delf Norona Museum opened in December 1978. The thoroughly modern facility, with its natural brick facade and pyramid-shaped skylights is an architectural tribute to a prehistoric era.