Carl Potter Mound
Encyclopedia
The Carl Potter Mound is a historic Native American mound
in southern Champaign County
, Ohio
, United States
. Located near Mechanicsburg
, it lies on a small ridge in a pasture
field in southeastern Union Township
. In 1974, the mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a potential archaeological site
, primarily because of its use as a burial mound.
and Miami
rivers were rich with prehistoric earthworks when whites settled Ohio. Champaign County lies midway between these rivers, and accordingly its earthworks are fewer than those of the counties located along those two rivers. A 1914 study observed only six mounds and a total of eighteen archaeological sites countywide, in contrast to thirty-three mounds and a total of fifty-nine sites in Logan County
to the north, and twenty-two mounds and a total of ninety-six sites in Miami County
to the west. Unknown to this survey was the Carl Potter Mound: although it is one of several mounds and many burial sites that have been recorded on a single farm in Union Township, the only sites observed by the survey were located in the western part of the township.
in the farm's barnyard was excavated for gravel and found to contain multiple burials and artifacts
, which have since been assessed as dating from the Cole
period. Also located on the Potter farm is the site of a smaller mound, known as "Hodge Mound I." Intensive cultivation
over the mound has reduced it to ground level; its location can only be observed when the site is plowed, at which time remnants of charcoal
can be seen in the newly-cultivated soil. In contrast, the Potter Mound is not plowed; although it has been reduced in height by cultivation in the past, the site is no longer being so used.
During the 1930s, a group of young boys decided to dig into the Potter Mound; their primitive investigation yielded a group of bones and a grooved stone axe
. No other excavations, whether crude or rigorous, have been conducted since that time: accordingly, it is believed that the mound still contains burials and other artifacts. This axe alone is insufficient to identify the builders of the mound: grooved axes have been discovered both at early Adena
sites and at the sites of the earlier Late Archaic period. Nevertheless, it is believed that the mound was built by the Adena, due to its location: like the Potter mound, many confirmed Adena sites are located on small ridges near brooks. If the mound were built by an Adena group, it is likely the work of a clan that was isolated from the main Adena regions in the Scioto River valley to the east.
archaeologist Stephen C. Koleszar carried out a survey of archaeological sites in southwestern Ohio. Although six mounds had been recorded in Champaign County in 1914 — not including the Potter mound — only three mounds, including the Potter mound, were still in existence by 1970. Four years later, the Potter mound was added to the National Register of Historic Places
as part of a preservation effort. As part of its nomination to the Register, it was designated the "Carl Potter Mound" for its owner, Carl Potter; its previous name of "Hodge Mound" is a reference to a former owner, James A. Hodge.
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...
in southern Champaign County
Champaign County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,890 people, 14,952 households, and 10,870 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 15,890 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located near Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg, Ohio
Mechanicsburg is a village in Champaign County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,744 at the 2000 census.Mechanicsburg laid out in 1814 on the site of the Shawnee Indian Village of Chief Ohito...
, it lies on a small ridge in a pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
field in southeastern Union Township
Union Township, Champaign County, Ohio
Union Township is one of the twelve townships of Champaign County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,920 people in the township, 1,788 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. In 1974, the 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...
as a potential 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,...
, primarily because of its use as a burial mound.
Archaeology of Champaign County
The valleys of the SciotoScioto River
The Scioto River is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles in length. It rises in Auglaize County in west central Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth...
and Miami
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
rivers were rich with prehistoric earthworks when whites settled Ohio. Champaign County lies midway between these rivers, and accordingly its earthworks are fewer than those of the counties located along those two rivers. A 1914 study observed only six mounds and a total of eighteen archaeological sites countywide, in contrast to thirty-three mounds and a total of fifty-nine sites in Logan County
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
to the north, and twenty-two mounds and a total of ninety-six sites in Miami County
Miami County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 98,868 people, 38,437 households, and 27,943 families residing in the county. The population density was 243 people per square mile . There were 40,554 housing units at an average density of 100 per square mile...
to the west. Unknown to this survey was the Carl Potter Mound: although it is one of several mounds and many burial sites that have been recorded on a single farm in Union Township, the only sites observed by the survey were located in the western part of the township.
Nearby investigations
In the late nineteenth century, a kameKame
A kame is a geological feature, an irregularly shaped hill or mound composed of sand, gravel and till that accumulates in a depression on a retreating glacier, and is then deposited on the land surface with further melting of the glacier...
in the farm's barnyard was excavated for gravel and found to contain multiple burials and artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
, which have since been assessed as dating from the Cole
Cole culture
The Cole Culture is a Late Woodland Period culture of Native American people from central Ohio.Cole Culture people made flint tools and pottery. They were agrarian and cultivated beans, maize, squash, and tobacco. Cole people buried their dead in subterranean graves instead of mounds. They shared...
period. Also located on the Potter farm is the site of a smaller mound, known as "Hodge Mound I." Intensive cultivation
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
over the mound has reduced it to ground level; its location can only be observed when the site is plowed, at which time remnants of charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
can be seen in the newly-cultivated soil. In contrast, the Potter Mound is not plowed; although it has been reduced in height by cultivation in the past, the site is no longer being so used.
During the 1930s, a group of young boys decided to dig into the Potter Mound; their primitive investigation yielded a group of bones and a grooved stone axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
. No other excavations, whether crude or rigorous, have been conducted since that time: accordingly, it is believed that the mound still contains burials and other artifacts. This axe alone is insufficient to identify the builders of the mound: grooved axes have been discovered both at early Adena
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...
sites and at the sites of the earlier Late Archaic period. Nevertheless, it is believed that the mound was built by the Adena, due to its location: like the Potter mound, many confirmed Adena sites are located on small ridges near brooks. If the mound were built by an Adena group, it is likely the work of a clan that was isolated from the main Adena regions in the Scioto River valley to the east.
Preservation
In 1970, Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
archaeologist Stephen C. Koleszar carried out a survey of archaeological sites in southwestern Ohio. Although six mounds had been recorded in Champaign County in 1914 — not including the Potter mound — only three mounds, including the Potter mound, were still in existence by 1970. Four years later, the Potter mound was added to 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...
as part of a preservation effort. As part of its nomination to the Register, it was designated the "Carl Potter Mound" for its owner, Carl Potter; its previous name of "Hodge Mound" is a reference to a former owner, James A. Hodge.
Further reading
- Koleszar, Stephen C. An Archaeological Survey of Southwestern Ohio. ColumbusColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
: Ohio Historical SocietyOhio Historical SocietyThe Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
, 1970.