Near Peebles in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
What Is An Effigy Mound?
An effigy mound is a geoglyph, or symbol made of earth. The most common effigy mounds in North America are animal effigies.
Ohio has only two well-documented effigy mounds, Serpent Mound and Alligator Mound.
Ohio's effigy mounds were not burial mounds, though effigy mounds in southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa typically were used for burial.
Effigy mounds are giant earthen sculptures that may be shrines built to honor the powerful spirits they represent.
Ohio Effigy Mounds
Serpent Mound is the largest effigy mound In North America. It is more than 1 400 feet long and originally may have been more than 5 feet high at its highest point.
Alligator Mound in Licking County is another Ohio effigy mound. With its round head and curled tail it doesn't look much like an alligator It may be a squirrel or an opossum, or it may be the Underwater Panther. Like the Great Serpent, the Underwater Panther was the Lord of the World Below in many American Indian traditions.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans.
Location. 39° 1.45′ N, 83° 25.75′ W. Marker is near Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. Marker is on Horner Chapel Road (Ohio Route 73) 0.9 miles west of Horner Chapel Road (County Road T-116), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 521 Horner Chapel Rd, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents (here, next to this marker); The Village Site (here, next to this marker); The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (here, next to this marker); Exploring Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peebles.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on January 22, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.