Ohio History Journal

EXPLORATION OF THE GINTHER MOUND

 

 

H. C. SHETRONE, CURATOR OF ARCHAEOLOGY.

 

The type of prehistoric tumuli known variously as

Temple mounds, Platform mounds, Truncated mounds

and Flat-topped mounds has furnished substance for

much speculation in the archaeological literature of

Ohio.   The early attitude of writers on the subject

may be summarized in the words of Squier and Davis,

whose opinion is expressed as follows:

"So far as ascertained, they cover no remains, and seem

obviously designed as the sites of temples or of other structures

which have passed away, or as 'high places' for the performance

of certain ceremonies."

Fowke, however, writing at a much later date, is

not content with this convenient disposition of the mat-

ter, and states that

"As none of them have been explored except in a very in-

adequate and perfunctory manner, the assertion that 'they cover

no remains' is not warranted by our present knowledge."

Only a few examples of the type of mound under

consideration occur in Ohio, the most notable being

those in connection with the great enclosures at Mari-

etta, with minor ones at Newark and Portsmouth; a

low but extensive one within the Cedar Bank works,

north of Chillicothe; and, in close proximity to the last-

named, the rather striking Ginther Mound--the sub-

ject of this report.

(154)

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound     155 The accompanying map of the Cedar Blank works and vicinity, (Fig.1) after Squier and Davis, shows

FIG. 1 -- Map of Cedar Bank Works and adjacent Mounds. the location of the Ginther mound and circular en- closure, while their smaller drawing (Fig. 2) depicts

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156       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications the Ginther works in more detail.       Their description of the same is as follows: "About one-third of a mile south of the principal work (Cedar Bank) is a truncated pyramid, and a small circle; the former is 120 feet square at the base, and nine feet in height; the latter is 250 feet in diameter, and has an entrance from the south, 30 feet wide.  The sides of the pyramidal structure correspond to the

FIG. 2. -- Plan of Ginther Mound and Enclosure. cardinal points. The circle has a ditch interior to the embank- ment; and has also a broad embankment of about the same height with the outer wall, interior to the ditch, upon the side opposite the entrance * * *  The 'elevated square' has been excavated, but was found to contain no remains." Since the Ginther works, as is true of most of Ohio's prehistoric tumuli, have suffered modifications in form and size through cultivation, the drawings and measure- ments of the early explorers are here set down. While the mound itself was found to equal the dimensions given therein, the circle has almost disappeared beneath the plow, and at the present time is just barely traceable. Although Squier and Davis state explicitly that the Ginther mound had been excavated and found to con- tain nothing, the Museum authorities felt that, in view of the fact that it is practically the only mound of its type remaining available for examination, and since there is a recognized growing demand for information

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound   157 regarding their use and purpose, it should be explored. This sentiment was strengthened by the significant lo- cation of the tumulus, which lies midway between, and in close proximity to, the Cedar Bank works on the north and the Hopeton works to the south, while just across the Scioto river to the west is the important Mound City group.   Since the Cedar Bank and the Hopeton works are practically devoid of mounds, it was felt that the Ginther mound night prove to bear a very close relationship to either or both of them. With the kind permission of Mrs. Mary Ginther,

owner of the land upon which the works are located, and with the cooperation and assistance of Mr. M. D. Vaughan, manager of the estate, examination of the Ginther mound (Fig. 3) was begun on July 8 and com- pleted on August 15, 1922. The final calculations of Mr. John H. Jefferson, surveyor for the project, showed the structure to be ten feet in maximum height, while the flattened portion, with a diameter of 70 feet, aver- aged slightly less than nine feet high.  The floor ex-

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158      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

tent was approximately 100 feet east and west and 125

feet north and south. There was no evidence to indi-

cate that the mound ever had been geometrically rect-

angular in form, as shown in Squier and Davis' drawing,

although this feature, particularly the outward angular

aspect of the tumulus, may have been obliterated by

cultivation and erosion.

The accompanying map of the floor, (Fig. 4) made

by Mr. Jefferson for our survey, tells the story of the

Ginther mound. The explanation should be noted, how-

ever, that with a single exception the ash-beds, fire-

places and other indicia shown on this plan in reality

do not pertain to the mound proper, but were found be-

neath the floor where they had been made and used pre-

vious to the erection of the mound. In a word, despite

the fact that the Ginther mound was shown to be of

the Hopewell culture and that it contained a typical and

highly specialized floor, there had not been placed within

it a single burial or deposit, nor did it contain a single

basin of the so-called crematory type -- an almost in-

separable adjunct of the Hopewell mounds.

The exception to this perhaps unprecedented barren-

ness of the floor of such mounds was a singular depres-

sion lying just east of center. This was rectangular in

form, measuring three feet by five feet, and extended

almost east and west. The floor around this basin or

depression was heavily covered with coarse sand and

fine gravel, of a reddish-yellow color. The pit itself

which, when cleared out, was found to be 16 inches in

depth, contained, first, a stratum of the same sand as

that covering the floor, three inches thick; beneath this,

a layer of dark organic matter, interspersed with numer-

ous animal and bird bones, broken pottery-ware, bits

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound        159

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160      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

of mica, flint chips and mussel shells; below this was a

layer, four inches thick, of clayey loam, intermixed with

which were a few animal bones; while at the bottom

a stratum four inches in thickness was composed of

carbonaceous material, containing the same sort of

debris as the above strata.  Near this pit were two

small post-holes.

What may be considered a second deviation from the

uniform dearth of deposits or structures on the floor of

this mound was the occurrence, northeast of the basin,

of a post-hole, around which had been laid, covering

a rectangular space 11 by 16 inches in extent, carefully

fitted fragments of pottery-ware.  These, pavement-

like in their disposition, were shreds from utility ware,

cord-marked, ranging in size from small fragments to

pieces three or four inches across.

The very striking and finely constructed floor of

this mound extended uniformly to the very edge of

the super-incumbent earthen structure, and comprised

approximately 10,000 square feet of surface.   The

covering of sand often reached a depth of more than

one inch, particularly toward the south side. A gradual

and apparently intentional slope from the north termi-

nated in a gutter along the southern circumference, for

drainage. A few post-molds occurred around the outer

edge of the floor, but these were not in sufficient num-

bers to indicate any extensive attempt at roofing. Upon

the floor, particularly toward the south and west, great

numbers of chips and flakes from the translucent and

variegated Flint Ridge chalcedony and the gray or drab

nodular flint were scattered. Among these were oc-

casional finished projectile points and flake knives.

Of the several ash-beds and fire-places found be-

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound    161

neath the floor, the positions of which are indicated on

the map, it only need be said that they were entirely

similar to that found upon the floor described above,

in so far as contents are concerned, and that in form

they were similar but much less specialized and less

carefully constructed.

The one development of particular interest in the

sub-floor examination was the finding of what appears

to have been a food offering, or at least a cache deposit

of food.  A pit, three feet across, had been dug to a

depth of 18 inches below the floor line, and on the flat

bottom of this had been deposited a half-bushel of

hickory-nuts, of the common shell-bark variety. Around

the edges of this deposit were placed, with apparent

order, a number of mussel-shells, presumably to serve

as spoons or ladles. On top of the deposit, at its cen-

ter, was the remains of a burned clay vessel, of the

utility type, containing a number of animal bones, among

which were identified the vertebrae, shoulder-blade and

split leg-bones of the deer. Around the pit containing

the deposit had been set small posts and stakes, enclos-

ure-like.

The earth comprising the mound was that gathered

promiscuously from  the adjacent surface and from

ravines and washes. The individual loads or basketfuls

often were clearly distinguishable by their colors.  A

single intrusive burial -- that of a young adult -- was

found, badly decomposed, one foot below the surface

on the northern slope of the mound.

Four old shafts, sunk to either side of center in a

line north and south were disclosed by our survey. They

were each about five feet across at the point of con-

tact with the floor. Aside from Squier and Davis' state-

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162      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

ment, as before noted, no record of such examination,

nor by whom conducted, has been found.

 

The accompanying map of the Cedar Bank works

shows a small mound occupying the point of land just

to the north-west of the Ginther works.  This is on

land now owned by the Shilder brothers, of Chillicothe,

who generously permitted its examination. The struc-

ture was found to be two feet high at the center, with

an indeterminate diameter, as a result of cultivation and

from the fact that no floor line existed. Occupying the

central portion of the elevation there was found a mass

of burned clay, reaching from the supposed base-line

to within a few inches of the top, and covering a space

nine feet in diameter. At the bottom center of this mass

was found a partial human skeleton, the skull, femuri

and a few small bones only being present. It was noted

that the earth beneath the skeleton was disturbed, and

excavation disclosed a circular pit, four and one-half

feet in diameter, reaching to a depth of three feet be-

neath the base line. On the flat bottom of this pit was

found a layer, six inches in depth, composed of inter-

mixed carbonaceous matter and small plates and frag-

ments of mica. A few of the mica plates were as much

as six inches across, but none was cut into form. Three

flake knives, of drab nodular flint, were found in the

layer. No other part of the mound disclosed remains.

 

In the same field and adjoining the Shilder mound

on the north-east, are a number of tipi-sites and fire-

places. The presence of these is readily noted when

the ground is freshly plowed, or in the greater luxuri-

ance of the grain under cultivation. They are charac-

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound    163

terized by an abundance of burned stone, flint-chips,

broken pottery-ware and fragments of mica. In two of

these, beneath the plow-lines, were found flake knives

of the drab flint, exactly similar to those taken from the

Shilder and the Ginther mounds.  It is everywhere

evident, from the remains of tipi-sites and other indi-

cations, that the entire face of the terrace, from the

Cedar Bank group southward past the Ginther works to

the Hopeton group, was the place of habitation of the

peoples who constructed and utilized these several works.

That the Ginther mound, the Shilder mound and

the accompanying tipi-sites pertain to the great Hope-

well culture group of prehistoric peoples will be evident

to the student of Ohio archaeology, if not, indeed, to

the casual reader. Whether future explorations will

continue to bear out Squier and Davis' seemingly un-

warranted surmise that the flat-topped mounds contain

no remains, remains to be seen. We can, even at this

late date, speak authoritatively only of a single one --

the Ginther mound. In this instance we know that no

human remains were enclosed, and if one were inclined

to speculation it would not be difficult to surmise that

the impressive tumulus was erected to mark the spot

where some event or occurrence of great moment and

significance to its builders transpired -- rather than as

as monument to the dead.

 

 

 

THE MIESSE MOUND.

The Miesse Mound is located in Green township,

Ross county, Ohio, on the land of Dr. Charles Miesse,

of Chillicothe. It lies on the brow of the second ter-

race of the Scioto river valley, about one mile north-east

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164      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

from the Ginther mound, and about one-third of a mile

east of the Cedar Bank works. Upon completion of

the examination of the Ginther mound, and at the re-

quest of Mr. Albert C. Spetnagel, who had secured ex-

ploration privileges, the force of laborers was employed

for one day, August 10, 1922, in its examination.

The structure was found to be 25 feet in diameter

and about two feet in height. It was composed of the

yellow clay of the region and was entirely homogenous

throughout.  It was found to contain five distinct

burials -- four of them being simple uncremated skele-

tons, placed singly, while the fifth consisted of an un-

cremated skeleton accompanied by the cremated re-

mains of two or more individuals.

One of the uncremated skeletons (number 1 in the

accompanying floor plan) lay within the south-west

quarter of the mound, on the original surface. It was

that of an adult male, about five feet and seven inches

in height, which lay extended on the back with head

to the southeast. Several bones of the skeleton were

missing, the burial apparently being a re-burial.  It

was unaccompanied by artifacts, but the right femur

was penetrated by a chipped flint arrow-point, of black

material, two inches in length. The projectile had

pierced the heavy bone, to and through the interior

canal, reaching to the opposite wall. The force with

which the weapon struck the angular edge of the bone

had resulted in shattering the extreme tip or point, and

the fragments apparently had worked their way out of

the wound, in the resulting suppurition. That the wound

was not a fatal one is shown by the fact that the perfora-

tion had healed, considerable new bone tissue having

been thrown out around the embedded point. That the

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Exploration of the Ginther Mould     165 arrow-point itself had remained in place in the shaft of the femur is explained, doubtless, by the fact that it was embedded in the heavy muscles of the leg, and in the absence of efficient surgical skill, was suffered to re- main within the wound.    The cut (Fig. 1) illustrates

the femur bone with the arrow-point in place, as found; and the wound, with the arrow removed. A second skeleton (number 2) almost complete but badly decomposed, lay in the south-east quarter of the mound. It was disposed similarly to the above and was without distinctive features. Two partial skeletons (numbers 3 and 4) lay within the north-east quarter of the mound. A rude refuse pit and a fire-place occupied the north-west section, as shown on the plan. The feature of the Miesse mound was the central complex burial, shown as number 5. This occupied a grave, dug at about the center of the structure to a

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166       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications depth of 15 inches below the original surface and meas- uring six feet in length and two feet and four inches in

width. In it had been placed an adult human skeleton, uncremated, with head to the south-west. On the chest

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Exploration of the Ginther Mound        167

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168      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

of the skeleton lay the base portion of a spear-point

of translucent flint, while at the knees were a truncated

cone of white limestone, a turtle-shell container, an ar-

row-point of black flint, the incisor of a beaver, and the

tip of a deer antler.  Beneath and around this skeleton,

extending from the head to the knees, were disposed the

cremated remains of two, and probably three individuals.

The cut shown as Figure 2 shows the burial as uncov-

ered, while Figure 3 illustrates the uncremated skeleton

after removal of the cremated remains.

The finding of a burial in which an uncremated

skeleton was accompanied by cremated remains, as in

this example, is interesting and unusual, if not indeed

unique.  The arrow-pierced femur is one of the best

illustrations yet found in the Ohio mounds of the pene-

trating power of the primitive flint implement.

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