Spruce Run Earthworks
Encyclopedia
The Spruce Run Earthworks is an archaeological site
located in the central part of the U.S. state
of Ohio
, in Delaware County
. It is believed to have been built by the Adena culture
.
According to the National Register of Historic Places, the location of this property is restricted information, therefore all details including the address, verbal boundary descriptions, maps or anything information in the inventory-nomination form is redacted. From the report:
"The Spruce Run Earthworks are located on a steep-sided peninsula of land [location removed]. The creation of Hoover Reservoir in the early 1950s did not raise the water level enough to endanger the site. This [redacted] earthwork and mound complex was excavated, in part, by John T. Short in 1879. His report was submitted to Professor P.W. Putnam of the Peabody Museum where it remained unpublished until 1947.
"[Ten lines redacted]
"Today the large mound [redacted}. Short dug a trench [redacted]. This accounts for the difference in todays [sic] dimensions and those of 1879. The scar of this excavation is still in eviden. The small mound [redacted].
"Portions of the embankment remain on the [redacted] of the mound, [redacted] were leveled in driveway and house construction. The graded way still slopes down to the edge of the water although it is somewhat rutted by erosion. No evidence remains of the low circular earthworks [redacted] which has long been leveled by cultivation. However, arial photographs would probably reveal its exact location.
"This particular area is now becoming residential. The large open areas that still remain could through test excavation possible reveal habitation sites associated with the earthworks.
"The Spruce Run Earthworks and Mound were constructed by the prehistoric Adena Indians, although at the time of Short's excavation this culture had not been named or delineated. By recording his findings and storing the artifacts in the Peabody Museum, Short has enabled the site to now be classified as Adena. His report includes a number of firsts in Ohio; the first record of an Adena site in Delaware County, the first possible 'graded way' in Adena association, and the first record of Adena incised pottery.
Ohio Historical Society
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,...
located in the central part of the U.S. state
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...
, in Delaware County
Delaware County, Ohio
Delaware County is a fast-growing suburban county in the state of Ohio, United States, within the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the United States Census Bureau's 2004 population estimates, Delaware County's population of 142,503 made it the fastest growing county in...
. It is believed to have been built by the 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...
.
According to the National Register of Historic Places, the location of this property is restricted information, therefore all details including the address, verbal boundary descriptions, maps or anything information in the inventory-nomination form is redacted. From the report:
"The Spruce Run Earthworks are located on a steep-sided peninsula of land [location removed]. The creation of Hoover Reservoir in the early 1950s did not raise the water level enough to endanger the site. This [redacted] earthwork and mound complex was excavated, in part, by John T. Short in 1879. His report was submitted to Professor P.W. Putnam of the Peabody Museum where it remained unpublished until 1947.
"[Ten lines redacted]
"Today the large mound [redacted}. Short dug a trench [redacted]. This accounts for the difference in todays [sic] dimensions and those of 1879. The scar of this excavation is still in eviden. The small mound [redacted].
"Portions of the embankment remain on the [redacted] of the mound, [redacted] were leveled in driveway and house construction. The graded way still slopes down to the edge of the water although it is somewhat rutted by erosion. No evidence remains of the low circular earthworks [redacted] which has long been leveled by cultivation. However, arial photographs would probably reveal its exact location.
"This particular area is now becoming residential. The large open areas that still remain could through test excavation possible reveal habitation sites associated with the earthworks.
"The Spruce Run Earthworks and Mound were constructed by the prehistoric Adena Indians, although at the time of Short's excavation this culture had not been named or delineated. By recording his findings and storing the artifacts in the Peabody Museum, Short has enabled the site to now be classified as Adena. His report includes a number of firsts in Ohio; the first record of an Adena site in Delaware County, the first possible 'graded way' in Adena association, and the first record of Adena incised pottery.
See also
- Highbanks Metropolitan Park Mounds I and IIHighbanks Metropolitan Park Mounds I and IIThe Highbanks Metropolitan Park Mounds I and II are two archaeological sites located within Highbanks Metro Park in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The park is in southernmost Delaware County on the east bank of the Olentangy River...
- Highbank Park WorksHighbank Park WorksThe Highbank Park Works is a complex of earthworks and a potential archaeological site located within Highbanks Metro Park in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The park is in southernmost Delaware County on the east bank of the Olentangy River...
Ohio Historical Society