Fort Ancient in Warren County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Myth of the Mound Builders
Throughout the 19th Century scholars believed there were three great New World civilizations; Inca, Aztec, and Mound Builders. They believed that the American Indians had destroyed the Mound Builders. While early scholars could not accept the idea of Indians constructing the earthworks, they could accept the idea that Indians conquered the Mound Builder race. This unfortunate explanation separated ancient civilization from Indian ancestry and showed that Indians were savages who did not deserve the lands they occupied.
Today, archaeologists call this interpretation the mound builder myth. In reality, the Indians who built these walls are the ancestors of modern Indians. They were a people who constructed earthen mounds as part of the social or religious aspects of their society.
Erected by The Ohio Historical Society.
Location. 39° 23.985′ N, 84° 5.826′ W. Marker is in Fort Ancient, Ohio, in Warren County. Touch for map. Marker is north of the parking area near the access road loop in the South Fort of Fort Ancient State Memorial. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6123 Ohio Route 350, Oregonia OH 45054, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Ancient Dwelling (within Fort Ancient Prehistoric Indian Earthworks (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hilltop Enclosure (about 300 feet away); North Overlook (about 300 feet away); Fort Ancient Earthworks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Changes at Fort Ancient (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stages of Construction / Crescent Mounds (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Ancient.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Ancient. (Submitted on January 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Fort Ancient Earthworks. (Submitted on January 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Categories. • Education • Forts, Castles • Landmarks • Man-Made Features • Native Americans • Natural Features •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,800 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 25, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.