Thursday, February 16, 2012

Traveling West Virginia - The Mound

I didn't have to travel very far yesterday when I traveled West Virginia, because this landmark is fairly close to where I live.


I walked up these steps . . .


up and up. . . 

  

to the top of the South Charleston Adena Mound. It is called the Criel Mound because that was the name of the family who owned the farm that it was located on. This is the second largest burial mound in West Virginia. The top was leveled in 1840 for the erection of a judge's stand that was used for horse races that were conducted around the base of the mound.

  

Here is what it looked like inside when the Smithsonian Institute excavated it in the late 1800s. They recovered artifacts and 13 complete skeletons.


This is what it looks like when looking down D Street in So. Charleston. 


And what it looked like in 1909.

  

Be sure and visit the Interpretive Center just down the street from it at 313 D Street. It is filled with artifacts from the area. Joe greets you at the door and is just about the friendliest guy you would ever want to meet. That is my husband, Charley, gabbing in the doorway with him.



 Displays are throughout the Center . . .





  

 

You know I love looking at Indian artifacts. I have a collection of my own and talked with him about them.  

 If you are ever in the area, park and have a look around. Free 2 hour parking spots are right beside of the mound.

Here are a few links to info about the mound:

The Adena Indians "Mound Builders"
Criel Mound
Criel Mound - Wikipedia

posted by Janet Smart at Writing in the Blackberry Patch 
©Janet F. Smart



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15 comments:

  1. JoanneFebruary 16, 2012 at 1:25 PM

    I'm a walker, and like the looks of those steps. The whole mound area looks like a great place to walk and spend the afternoon ... Any good coffee shops, around the mound ;)

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  2. lil red henFebruary 16, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    Looks like a fun place to visit. It's always interesting to think you're walking in the trails of those before us.

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  3. Linda O'ConnellFebruary 16, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    I loved this little visit, thanks for the pictures.

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  4. Gorges SmytheFebruary 16, 2012 at 9:44 PM

    As many times as I've been to Charleston, I've never visited the mound. I've been to the one in Moundsville several times. Maybe it's the traffic that I don't like!

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  5. A Colorful WorldFebruary 18, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    How interesting! I love hearing about this. We've been to Moundville in AL but I didn't know about this mound.

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  6. floweringmamaFebruary 18, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    Whooooo those steps! Thanks for the picture tour!

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  7. Wayfarin' StrangerFebruary 19, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    Very interesting, Janet. I've been to South Charleston many times (I had two uncles who lived in St. Albans) but somehow I missed the mound. You may know that the Adena culture takes its name from Adena Plantation in Ohio. One of our historic houses here in Rugby is named Adena Cottage. It was built for and named by Sarah Worthington Pomeroy Wellman, a granddaughter of Ohio Governor Worthington who owned Adena Plantation.

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  8. TipperFebruary 20, 2012 at 10:40 AM

    Fascinating! There was an mound here-unfourtunatley it was all scooped up and taken to a museum somewhere else.

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  9. DelisaFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    Hi Janet! It looks like you had a wonderful time. I love exploring places like this too. Sometimes some of the most interesting places are just right around the corner. I really enjoy learning about local history, especially since moving here to Georgia. There is a something to see around every corner. Have a wonderful evening! Delisa :)

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  10. UnknownFebruary 21, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    Hey you were down near my area ( I live in St. Albans). I have fun memories of sled riding on the mound. Definitely not the best way to honor it...would probably not do it now!

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  11. Mary L. BriggsFebruary 23, 2012 at 2:18 PM

    Thanks for the trip! I love to go to places like that. So interesting to learn and see how ancient cultures lived. Museums are my favorite thing to do on our days out. The Spiro Mounds in Oklahoma are close by and we've been over there a couple of times.

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  12. BeckyFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:06 AM

    Interesting.
    I've never seen the one in South Charleston, but I do remember the on in Spring Hill, WV. I lived there when I was a child.

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  13. MikeMarch 14, 2012 at 4:17 AM

    im more into the rocks because i found 2 green rocks in my uncles yard when i was planting his flowers and a few years ago i found really small pieces of the green rocks closer up by the house when i was using my money-finder and now i have been trying to find out what kind of rocks they are if you or anyone would like to see them heres my email (painter_in_oils_925@yahoo.com) and please leave me a message well to see them or help me find out what kind they are,
    o yeah and plus where i live at my uncles it used to be a old query if i could i would have uploaded a picture of my rocks on here

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  14. MikeMarch 14, 2012 at 4:25 AM

    i wish i new what kind of rocks these are all that i know for now is that they are green rocks, they are green with a few sparkly colors and with a whitish color to and theirs a darker green color to on them the lighter green looks like green glass

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  15. Janet,March 14, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    Mike, I don't know much about rocks. You should go to Google and google images of green rocks and see what comes up.

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