Louden in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Who Built Serpent Mound?

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

1. Who Built Serpent Mound? Marker

Inscription. The ancestors of the American Indians of the Eastern Woodlands built Serpent Mound, but archaeologists disagree about when they built it. Some argue that the Adena culture built the mound around 2,300 years ago. This is the same culture that built the large, conical burial mound located at the east end of the parking lot.

Others think the Fort Ancient culture built the Serpent around 900 years ago. The Fort Ancient culture built the small burial mound located near the west end of the parking lot.

Serpent imagery became especially important during the Mississippian period, which is contemporary with the Fort Ancient culture in southern Ohio. This would support the idea that Serpent Mound was built by the Fort Ancient culture.

Future research may reveal the true age of Serpent Mound, but for now we just don't know for sure. What do you think?

Stone Palette
The Mississippian stone palette is engraved with two serpent-like creatures with rattlesnake tails (overlaid in white). It was found in a mound in Mississippi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 39° 1.491′ N, 83° 25.771′ W. Marker is in Louden

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, Ohio, in Adams County. It is on Ohio Route 73 one mile west of Horner Chapel Road (County Route 116), on the right when traveling north. The marker is located at the Serpent Mound State Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 521 Horner Chapel Road, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

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

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Astronomical Alignments at Serpent Mound? (a few steps from this marker); What Is An Effigy Mound? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Serpent Mound (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Village Site (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louden.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Missing Coil? (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Who Built Serpent Mound? (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was within shouting

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

2. Who Built Serpent Mound? Marker

distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Exploring Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named What Is An Effigy Mound? (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Village Site (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.