Adena : Moundbuilders
Artifacts and Photographs
Photographs taken from the William S. Webb Digital Archive
Excavations by the Works Projects Administration and the University of Kentucky, Department
of Anthropology and Archaeology
Boone County, Kentucky has four Adena sites that have been excavated.
These sites were excavated by the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at University of Kentucky between 1938 and 1941. They are
as followed: Crigler BE 20 and BE 27, Hartman BE 32, Riley BE 15 and
Robbins BE 3 (large mound) and BE 14 (small mound.) Included are photographs of the artifacts as well as photographs of the Adena Mounds
that is associated with each archaeology site. The map below displays all
the Adena sites and mounds, both excavated and unexcavated, located
in Boone County, Kentucky.
The Riley Mound, site BE 15.
The artifact in the top left corner is a quartzite hammerstone. A hammerstone is a prehistoric hammer used by the Adena Indians. The smaller artifacts in the photograph include broken flint points made of
quartzite rock and flint, which is also a rock. In the bottom of the photograph shows broken celt tools, which was used as an ax by the Adenas.
The Riley Mound
The photographs below display a two different pottery vessel that was
shattered into 159 fragments. The much greater portion of the pot on
the left was able to be recovered.
The photographs above display the reconstructed pot found at the
Riley Mound.
The Riley Mound, BE 15
This photograph shows post molds of where a structure once stood.
The Hartman Mounds, site BE 32
The above photo displays stone artifacts from a general excavation
and stone reel on the bottom two left photos, and a gorget on
bottom right. The stone reels would have been used for fishing purposes. Stone gorgets is a type of ornament wore around the neck.
The photograph below shows potsherds on the left and textile fragments on the right.
The Robbins Mound, BE 3
These photos was taken in December 1939, at the Robbins large mound
site. This profile shows the mound size of 65 to 70 feet high.
Crigler Mound Site, this photo shows the circular house paired post
molds of where people met. Approximately 95 people could fit inside of
this structure. Because of the rectangular post molds inside of the circular structure, archaeologists believe this was used for ceremonial purposes such as cremations. After the cremation, the structure could have
been burned and buried creating the mound site that Adena peoples are
known for.
Above is an example of the house pattern found at the large Crigler
Mound.
The Crigler Mound, BE 27, the top photograph displays Crigler small
mound artifacts.
The Robbins Mound, BE 3, the bottom photo shows potsherds found
at the Robbins Mound excavation.