The Ohio Snake Art That’s been mid-slither from a millennium-
1. Describe the serpent mound
2. What are some Native American tools and instruments that are sold in the gift shop?
3. What is the purpose of the mound?
4. Who built this mound? When did they build it?
5. How did they build it l?
6. Why did they choose the shape of a snake?
1. The serpent mound is a large earthwork mound in the shape of a snake, located in Adams County, Ohio. It is approximately 1,348 feet long and 3 feet high at its highest point. The snake's head is shaped like an oval and its body coils in several spirals leading to a final tail.
2. Some Native American tools and instruments that may be sold in the gift shop of the serpent mound site could include items such as dream catchers, traditional pottery, handmade jewelry, drums, crafted arrowheads, and woven baskets.
3. The purpose of the serpent mound is still a subject of debate amongst archaeologists and historians. One theory suggests that it might have served as a ceremonial or religious site, possibly related to astronomical events, as some believe its coils align with celestial bodies during certain solstices. Another theory is that it could have been used for communal gatherings or storytelling.
4. The exact builders of the serpent mound are not known, but it is attributed to the ancient Adena culture or possibly the Fort Ancient culture. It is estimated to have been built between 800 BCE and 1070 CE, making it over a millennium old.
5. The construction methods used to build the serpent mound are still not fully understood. It is believed that the builders would have cleared the ground, collected and shaped the soil to form the specific shape of the snake, and then piled it up, layer by layer, to create the mound. The process might have involved the use of wooden tools and possibly ropes or other materials to shape the earth.
6. The precise reasons behind why the builders chose the shape of a snake are not definitively known. One theory is that the serpent holds religious or symbolic significance in Native American cultures, representing various aspects such as fertility, transformation, or guardianship of the land. Another possibility is that the snake shape was inspired by prominent animal species in the region, as snakes, particularly the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, were common in that area.