Near Oakville in Lawrence County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Oakville Indian Mound
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 8, 2009
1. Oakville Indian Mound Marker
Inscription.
Oakville Indian Mound. . Rising 27 feet high, this is the largest woodland mound in Alabama, with a base covering 1.8 acres and a flat top of over one acre. Built by prehistoric Copena Indians, the mound is 2,000 years old and constructed from earth probably carried one basket at a time from the Oakville pond area, 300 yards to the east. The Copena, named for their use of copper and galena, were prolific mound builders, as shown by the remains of over 20 mounds in the surrounding area. They were primarily farmers and hunter~gatherers who engaged in ritual burials, with the dead often encased in a putty mixture of clay, ash and crushed shells. They were great traders in conch shells, marble, greenstone, copper and galena, all of which were found as mortuary offerings during the 1924 Smithsonian excavation of the Alexander Mound four miles to the southwest. Although the Oakville mound has never been excavated, it was the center of the Copena society of the Moulton Valley and was used for ceremonial, religious, social and cultural purposes.
Rising 27 feet high, this is the largest woodland mound in Alabama, with a base covering 1.8 acres and a flat top of over one acre. Built by prehistoric Copena Indians, the mound is 2,000 years old and constructed from earth probably carried one basket at a time from the Oakville pond area, 300 yards to the east. The Copena, named for their use of copper and galena, were prolific mound builders, as shown by the remains of over 20 mounds in the surrounding area. They were primarily farmers and hunter~gatherers who engaged in ritual burials, with the dead often encased in a putty mixture of clay, ash and crushed shells. They were great traders in conch shells, marble, greenstone, copper and galena, all of which were found as mortuary offerings during the 1924 Smithsonian excavation of the Alexander Mound four miles to the southwest. Although the Oakville mound has never been excavated, it was the center of the Copena society of the Moulton Valley and was used for ceremonial, religious, social and cultural purposes.
Erected by Lawrence County Historical Commission Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 34° 26.529′ N, 87° 10.717′ W. Marker is near Oakville
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, Alabama, in Lawrence County. Located inside Oakville Indian Mound Park at foot of Indian Mound near steps. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danville AL 35619, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Oakville, Alabama - Wikipedia. (Submitted on March 5, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 8, 2009
2. Oakville Indian Mound, Cherokee Indian Removal, Creek Indian Removal
Oakville Indian Mound (middle) Creek Indian Removal (left) Cherokee Indian Removal (right)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 27, 2021
3. Oakville Indian Mound Marker on right by stairs up the mound.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,078 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on June 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1. submitted on March 4, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on September 21, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on August 27, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.