Added August 27, 2000. Revised October 19, 2000.

Since it appears that there is relatively little readily available information in many parts of the world on American Archaeology, this Internet page aims to inform archaeologists on the subject. The aim is to facilitate Comparative Archaeology as defined on the home page of the Comparative Archaeology WEB©.

This page will be refined and improved as deemed necessary and useful.

The Late Woodland Cultures

Of Woodland Period in the Woodland Culture Area of the Eastern US

Under Construction!

The Geography

There are numerous Late Woodland manifestations in the archaeological record of the Eastern Woodland Culture Area. They follow the apparent collapse of the Hopewell interaction sphere. Although there may be considerable similarity between various prehistoric people of this period over larger regions, the connections still await detailed interregional comparison as suggested by Charles M. Niquette and Jonathan P. Kerr in their site report on the Parkline site of Putnam County, West Virginia.

General Chronology

The early Late Woodland (AD 300/400 – 600/700) sees the demise of the Hopewell interaction. Although this period is about AD 1000, there are large regional variations within the huge Woodland Culture area. Thus the Ohio Historical Society Prehistory Time Line suggests ends the period at about AD 1200. In Ontario, Canada, the Late woodland is customarily concluded at AD 1650.

The transition from Hopewell to various Late Woodland archaeological manifestations (variously addresses cultures, phases, etc.) is perhaps even more problematic.Some researchers, such as Jeff Carskadden and James Morton (1996:318-338), see a continuous development on the Muskingum River in Northeast Ohio, while Charles M. Niquette and Jonathan P. Kerr argue for cultural or even ethnic discontinuity based on archaeological evidence from the Parkline site in Putnam County, West Virginia, and linguistic information. The problem of proving cultural continuity or discontinuity appears to be a dilemma faced by New as well as Old World archaeology.

The End of the Mound Builders

Some time after the demise of the Hopewell, mounds shaped in the form of birds, animals and reptiles were constructed in parts of the US Midwest. In southern Ohio the Fort Ancient people probably constructed the Serpent Mound around AD 1075. Similarly, the Mississippian culture built various mounds and palisaded enclosures.

Late Woodland Mounds

Sites in Ohio:

· Serpent Mound State Memorial, Peebles, Adams County, Ohio

Location in N Adams County

Serpent Mound State Memorial with brief research history and information on the geology.

Aerial Photo of the mound from the State of Ohio web site

^New The Serpent Mound head

^New The Serpent Mound tail

^New View from the tower to the head

^New View from the tower to the tail

^New View from the head to the valley

^New View from the tail to the valley

• The Alligator Mound, Licking County, Ohio

Location in Licking County (The site is not marked on the map. It is located between Newark and Gainsville, north of Route 16 and Raccoon Creek.

References and Links

Redating Serpent Mound. Archaeology, 49/6 November/December 1996.

The Late Woodland in Minnesota with additional links to other periods.

Mounds, Monuments, and the Politics of Power: Dimensions of Effigy Mound Function. by J. Staeck

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.