  The Mound Builders
That the Mound Builder lived here in Delaware County there is abundant evidence. The State of Ohio itself, from the standpoint of pre-historic occupation, is one of the most interesting portions of the entire globe. In no other equal area have so many of the Mound Builders' works consisting of fortifications, effigies, mounds, etc., been found. The total number of mounds in Ohio has been estimated at ten thousand. This is probably under rather than over the total figure; for while they are almost unknown in the northwest counties and are comparatively scarce in some parts in the rugged hill lands of the south and southeast and along the main watersheds, there is scarcely a township in any other part where they are not found. In the neighborhood of every stream in the southern half of the state, except some of those flowing through rough or swampy country, the surface is so dotted with them that signals could be transmitted from one to another for a hundred miles or more. There is scarcely a point along the Scioto below Circleville, or on either Miami in the lower half of its course, or in the valley of any tributary to these streams, where one may not be within a few minutes' ride of some permanent evidence of mound-builder habitation.
The most notable mounds in the State are: The Serpent Mound, in Adams County, which is more than a thousand feet in length; Fort Ancient, in Warren County, the length of whose surrounding embankment is about five miles, and estimated to contain 628,800 cubic yards of material; Fort Hill, in Highland County, enclosing an area of thirty-five acres; Graded Way, in Pike County; and fortifications at Newark covering over a thousand acres. The largest mound in the State, at Miamisburg, is sixty-eight feet in height and 800 feet in circumference at the base.
While Delaware County possesses none ot these more important of the works of the Mound Builders, and while there is nothing characteristic in the mounds and earthworks found on the county to distinguish them from those in many other parts of the State, there are many interesting evidences that these people once lived within the limits of the county. In nearly every township are to be found mounds and fortifications of various descriptions, which, though fast becoming obliterated, still remain to attest the activity of a people whose character and history are shrouded in the oblivion of the past. Many relics, such as stone hammers, hatchets, flint arrowheads, spearheads, pestles, pipes, and fleshers, have been found at various times, and many interesting collections have been made by citizens of the county. In June of the year 1906, a a society known as The Delaware County Archaeological and Historical Society [now the Delaware County Historical Society] was organized and incorporated by a number of citizens who were interested in the collection and preservation of relics of this character, as well as in other matters pertaining to the archaeology and history of the county, and there is now in the possession of various members of this organization a large number of relics which, as soon as permanent quarters are secured, will be open to the inspection of the public. [Hopefully, the DCHS still has these relics.] In the museum of Ohio Wesleyan University there is also a very large and interesting collection. [Museum? Beeghly Library??]
The larger part of the mounds within the county are found in the southern portion along the Olentangy River. One of the most notable is in the southwestern part of Orange Township. It bears all the marks of having been a fort, and with the river -- and a large ravine which enters the river at almost right angles -- forms a semicircle which encloses nearly ten acres. Several gateways, or openings, in the wall surrounding it, which is of earth, from five to eight feet high, are guarded by mounds on the inside of the enclosure.
There is an ancient fortification located on the east side of the Olentangy about four miles south of Delaware. Like the one farther down the river, before mentioned as being built at the intersection of a ravine with the river, this one is likewise located between two ravines at the point of their intersection, about half a mile from the river, and could have been intended for no other purpose than that of defense. The embankment with the ditch outside of it contains about twenty acres. The height of the embankment is about five feet from the bottom of the ditch and the embankment itself is about five hundred feet in length, with an opening or gateway near the southern extremity. There seems to have been a line of fortifications extending all along the river for considerable distance, perhaps all the way to the Scioto and thence to the Ohio.
Mounds, mostly sepulchral, in addition to those already mentioned, have been discovered in various other parts of the county. In the issue of the Delaware Herald for September 25, 1879, there is an account of a mound which was evidently explored more thoroughly than most of those which have been known to exist here. "Saturday we were shown some interesting relics consisting of a queen conch shell, some isingglass (mica), and several peculiarly shaped pieces of slate which were found on the farm of Solomon Hill, Concord Township, Delaware County, Ohio. The mound is situated on the banks of a rocky stream. The nearest place where the queen conch shell is found is on the coast of Florida; the isingglass in New York State, and the slate in Vermont and Pennsylvania. Two human skeletons were also found in the mound, one about seven feet long, the other a child. The shell was found at the left cheek of the large skeleton. A piece of slate about one by six inches was under the chin. The slate was provided with two smooth holes, apparently for the purpose of tying it to its position. Another peculiarly shaped piece, with one hole, was on the chest, and another with some isingglass was on the left hand."
Very little was known about the Mound Builders when the above text was published in 1908.Today we know that the earliest mounds were burial mounds of the Adena Indians. This culture gave way to that of the Hopewell Indians. The Hopewell were the inhabitants who made ornaments out of shell, mica and other materials. The Hopewell used the earthworks as ceremonial centers, social gathering places, trading posts, and places of worship. Thus, it would seem that the Mound Builder culture was a precursor to the more modern Indians of Delaware County. An Indian Mound may be viewed in Delaware County located off of the scenic overlook trail of Highbanks Metro Park. Exhibits of the Adena and Hopewell Indians may be found at the Ohio Historical Society.
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