What Is An Effigy Mound?

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018

1. What Is An Effigy Mound? Marker

Inscription.
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 • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39°

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1.45′ N, 83° 25.75′ W. Marker was near Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. It was 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 was at or near this postal address: 521 Horner Chapel Rd, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It was also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Welcome To Serpent Mound (a few steps from this marker); Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (within shouting distance of this marker); Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Village Site (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronomical Alignments at Serpent Mound? (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Who Built Serpent Mound? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peebles.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018

2. What Is An Effigy Mound? Marker

(was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Village Site (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Exploring Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Welcome To Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Who Built Serpent Mound? (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 732 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on March 17, 2025, 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.