Few surviving Kanawha Valley Mounds built in the Woodland period after 500 B.C by the Adena culture 150 BC
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Gps Coordinates / 38.3685754,-81.6965196
Criel Mound Native American Burial Mound VR West Virginia
301 7th Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303, United States
The mound was originally conical in shape. Residents of the area leveled the top in the century 1840 to erect a judges stand, as they ran horse races around the base of the mound at the time.
Inside the mound, Professor Thomas found thirteen skeletons, two near the top of the mound, and eleven at the base.
Gps Coordinates / 38.3686004,-81.6965135
The Criel Mound is part of the second-largest known concentration of Adena mounds and circular enclosures which Cyrus Thomas called the "Kanawha Valley Mounds".
Part of The Historic South Charleston Walking Tour to some of West Virginia's most unique history.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link -81.6969688 / Gps Link -81.6968591 / Gps Link -81.6967784
Gps Coordinates / 38.3686914,-81.6969688 / 38.368767,-81.6968591 / 38.3688821,-81.6967784
The skeletons at the base consisted of a single very large but badly decayed skeleton at the center, a "once most powerful man" which according to A.R. Sines who assisted Col. Norris in the excavation, measured "Six feet, 8 3–4 inches" (205 cm) from head to heel (the Smithsonian nomination form added "but the extreme height indicated might have been an exaggeration created by earth pressing down on the burial").
Many original Adena mounds were destroyed during later development of the area, a few remain.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link -81.6967205 / Gps Link -81.6969258 / Gps Link -81.697001
Gps Coordinates / 38.3688974,-81.6967205 / 38.3693799,-81.6969258 / 38.3683346,-81.697001
This skeleton was surrounded by ten other skeletons arranged in a spoke-like pattern, with their feet pointing toward the central skeleton. The skeletons at the base had been wrapped in elm bark and were lying on a floor of white ash and bark.
Gps Coordinates / 38.3692933,-81.6963138
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Today, the Criel Mound is the centerpiece of Staunton Park, a small municipal park maintained by the city of South Charleston. It is a gathering place for community activities, such as arts and crafts fairs, revivals, memorial services, sunrise services, and town carnivals.
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