Hodgen's Cemetery Mound
Encyclopedia
The Hodgen's Cemetery Mound is a Native American mound in the far eastern part of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. Located in the village of Tiltonsville
along the Ohio River
shoreline of Jefferson County
, the mound is a prehistoric earthwork and archaeological site
, and it has been named a historic site
.
During the nineteenth century, white residents of the village of Tiltonsville founded a cemetery
around a small hill on the northern side of their village. A round, cone-shaped knoll with a tree growing from its top, the hill is surrounded by gravestones as old as the 1870s. At some point since that time, erosion
of the hillside revealed human bones, including a skull
with evidence of artificial cranial deformation
. This practice was common among the prehistoric Adena culture
; consequently, the bones allowed archaeologists to determine that the hill was a burial mound
built by the Adena, who are believed to have inhabited the area at some point between 500 BC and AD 500.
Although the Hodgen's Cemetery Mound has never been exacavated, it is a significant archaeological site
— disproportionately large numbers of Adena burials with cranial deformation were societal élites who were typically buried with significant grave goods
, and the intact state of the mound means that its original contents are likely to remain in their place. The mound has been disturbed by the digging of modern graves into its southwestern side, but the graves have not deformed the mound's general conical shape significantly.
In 1975, the Hodgen's Cemetery Mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, qualifying because of its archaeological value in the local area. It is one of two Jefferson County archaeological sites on the Register, along with the Speedway Mound in nearby Rayland
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Located in the village of Tiltonsville
Tiltonsville, Ohio
Tiltonsville is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,329 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
shoreline of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
, the mound is a prehistoric earthwork and archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
, and it has been named a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
.
During the nineteenth century, white residents of the village of Tiltonsville founded a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
around a small hill on the northern side of their village. A round, cone-shaped knoll with a tree growing from its top, the hill is surrounded by gravestones as old as the 1870s. At some point since that time, erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
of the hillside revealed human bones, including a skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
with evidence of artificial cranial deformation
Artificial cranial deformation
Artificial cranial deformation, head flattening, or head binding is a form of permanent body alteration in which the skull of a human being is intentionally deformed. It is done by distorting the normal growth of a child's skull by applying force...
. This practice was common among the prehistoric Adena culture
Adena culture
The Adena culture was a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 1000 to 200 BC, in a time known as the early Woodland Period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system...
; consequently, the bones allowed archaeologists to determine that the hill was a burial mound
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
built by the Adena, who are believed to have inhabited the area at some point between 500 BC and AD 500.
Although the Hodgen's Cemetery Mound has never been exacavated, it is a significant archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
— disproportionately large numbers of Adena burials with cranial deformation were societal élites who were typically buried with significant grave goods
Grave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...
, and the intact state of the mound means that its original contents are likely to remain in their place. The mound has been disturbed by the digging of modern graves into its southwestern side, but the graves have not deformed the mound's general conical shape significantly.
In 1975, the Hodgen's Cemetery Mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, qualifying because of its archaeological value in the local area. It is one of two Jefferson County archaeological sites on the Register, along with the Speedway Mound in nearby Rayland
Rayland, Ohio
Rayland is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 434 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.