Author of Expanded Reprinting of Squier & Davis Book also Explains Serpent Mound Festival
Chillicothe & Southern Ohio Preshistory — Get a bird’s-eye-view of Adena and Hopewell earthworks in southern Ohio in a week with a local author and investigator of the earthworks.
Jeffrey Wilson will give an aerial perspective of the culture of the prehistoric World Heritage earthworks in the annual meeting of the Friends of the Lucy Hayes Heritage Center on Saturday, June 28th.
He has also published a greatly expanded reprinting of the famous 1848 book on the earthworks, “Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley,” by Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis.
Wilson said, for the 170th anniversary of the first book published by the Smithsonian Institution, he found original and more-accurate illustrations – and expanded the original approximately 350 pages to by about 1,000.
Wilson also blogs on his writings on his Facebook page.
Wilson is also the president of the Friends of Serpent Mound, and they are in the last day of their “Summer Solstice Celebration Festival” this Sunday.
The free event has a fun festival atmosphere, and Wilson says it offers about 60 vendors, with food, speakers, displays, and experts happy to chat. It’s not at the Serpent Mound park, but in the adjacent private “Soaring Eagle Retreat.” It will be open this remaining day, June 22nd, from 10 to 7.
The Lucy Hayes Heritage Center is at 90 West Sixth Street in Chillicothe. The annual meeting starts at 2pm on June 28th, with Wilson’s presentation after a brief business meeting.
Hear Wilson in his own words below.
From the festival’s website:
“Our annual festival highlights the area’s history, heritage, ecology, as well as the multitude of aspects associated with the Serpent Mound Park. The Great Serpent Mound effigy, built by the Ancient Indigenous Peoples, incorporates alignments to the rising and setting of the sun and moon on the solstices and equinoxes. The summer solstice sunset alignment is through the open jaws and across the oval.
“There are many theories, stories, ancient knowledge, and unknowns with Serpent Mound. The Friends of Serpent Mound started this festival as a way for the public to share and learn about those many facets. Our presenters vary from locals, historians, Indigenous Americans, Scientists, Spiritualist, Musicians, and more. Learn about Serpent Mound and the surrounding area’s history, uniqueness, wildlife, and ecology, along with some fun family friendly summer activities!”
