Some Ancient Mounds

SOME ANCIENT MOUNDS By Adelaide Nelson and Bernice Blain On September 18, 1925, a group of Saints and missionaries from the Ohio Conference made a trip to some of the ancient mounds in the south eastern part of the state. We arrived at Serpent Mound about 10 a. m. It is situated on a high cliff in Serpent Mound Park, Adams county, Ohio. The mound represents a huge, coiled serpent — its open jaws enclosing a large oval or egg. The s*erpent is more than 1,300 feet long, twenty feet wide, and from four to five feet high, compiled of SERPENT MOUND, ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO Left: Looking towards the tail of the serpent; right: Looking towards the head of the serpent. The mound is more than 1,300 feet long, 20 feet wide, and from four to five feet high. dirt, clay and stones. The egg, or oval, is 120 feet long and sixty feet in its greatest width. Near the center of this enclosed area is a small mound of stones which formerly was much larger. Many of the stones show signs of fire. Geologists claim that some powerful incentive must have in- fluenced the building of this mound and that a religious) motive seems very probable. A well-beaten path follows the coils of the serpent, and from a tower, nearby, one can get a splendid view of the entire structure.

124 IMPROVEMENT ERA Near the serpent are several small burial mounds. Just northwest is one which later became the site of a village, as shown by ash-beds and buried implements of different kinds. An ancient cemetery has also been discovered nearby where many skeletons have been unearthed. Many interested people visit the mound daily, and it was not difficult to distribute tracts and sell Books of Mormon to them when they learned that we possessed valuable information concerning the ancient inhabitants of America. After luncheon in the Park, we left Serpent Mound and journeyed south-east to Fort Hill. This ancient fortfication proved to be of even greater interest to us, being built just like the forts described in the 48th and 50th chapters of Alma in the Book of Mormon. We climbed an almost perpendicular wall surrounding an enclosure .of about one hundred acres. Walking along the top of this wall we found openings or entrances of about 225 feet apart. The wall is built of stones and earth containing varieties of soil from various parts of America. Immense forests have grown and mighty oaks have matured and fallen since the ancient inhabitants worked, fought, and fell in battle, on this hill. Numerous mounds resembling graves are found throughout the entire enclosure. The people in the vicinity pay little attention to these wonderful discoveries, but to us, it is only another striking evidence of the truth- fulness of the Book of Mormon. We came down from Fort Ancient with out testimonies greatly strengthened. On our homeward journey we stopped at the Seip Mound, at Bainbridge, where recently the Archaeological Society of the University of Ohio, has excavated and unearthed four bodies. We picked up several bones from human bodies, also some queer beads which crumbled at our touch. Shortly after leaving Brainbirdge, we were overtaken by a severe electrical storm and a downpour of rain. We arrived home drenched, but felt repaid by our day's experience!. Those in the party were Elder Jay S. Grant, president of the Ohio conference; Brother and Sister Peter Runyon, of Samantha, Ohio; Sister Nellie Ross of Colum- bus, Ohio; Sister Mary H. Meikle, Adelaide Nelson, Norma Christen- sen, and Bernice Blain, lady missionaries of the Ohio conference. Columbus, Ohio. Slander If there's one grievous fault that is worse than another Its the speaking of evil of friend, or of brother. And the sting from a slanderous tongue is more baneful Than is that of an adder, and fully as painful. For the unkind word spoken is beyond recalling And each time it's repeated becomes more appalling. So let us guard carefully our friends' reputation. For it's worth more to them than the wealth of a nation. Mesa, Arizona MRS. IDA R. ALLDREDGE