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

What Is An Effigy Mound?

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

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 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 lowa 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 that 5 feet high at its highest point.

Alligator Mound in Licking County is another Ohio effigy mound. With its round head and curly 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 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 • Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 39° 1.504′ N,

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83° 25.802′ W. Marker is in Louden, Ohio, in Adams County. It is on Ohio 73 (Ohio Route 73) one mile west of Horner Cheapel Road (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: 3854 OH-73, 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Serpent Mound (here, next to this marker); Who Built Serpent Mound? (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronomical Alignments at Serpent Mound? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpent

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

2. What Is An Effigy Mound? Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Village Site (about 300 feet away); Welcome To Serpent Mound (about 400 feet away); Burial Mound (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louden.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Missing Coil? (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named 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); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Exploring Serpent Mound (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 34 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.