Serpent Mound

The Serpent Mound is a prehistoric effigy earthwork in Adams County, Ohio, United States, notable for its long sinuous form arranged as a serpent on a low plateau.

The earthwork measures roughly 1,348 feet (about 411 m) from tail to head and is laid out with a coiled tail and an undulating body; the site includes a visitor center and an elevated observation platform that allows an overhead view. The mound sits on a plateau overlooking a nearby creek and is accompanied by trails and protected walkways.

Archaeologists agree the mound was built by indigenous peoples, but the precise builders and date remain debated in the literature, with different studies attributing it to different prehistoric cultural phases.

The site is located in southern Ohio near the small communities in Adams County and occupies a prominent ridge overlooking the surrounding lowlands.

• Length: Extends approximately 1,348 feet (about 411 m) in length along a raised plateau; the design reads as a winding serpent with a coiled tail and open-jawed head.
• Attribution is debated: Exact date and cultural attribution are debated by archaeologists, with proposals ranging from Adena-era builders to later Fort Ancient peoples; no single consensus exists.

What to See #

• Effigy earthwork: An earthen ridge forming the serpent shape runs roughly 1,348 feet (about 411 m) long and includes a coiled tail and an undulating body visible in plan from the adjacent platform.
• Visitor center and observation platform: A small visitor center and a raised observation platform overlook the mound and provide interpretive displays and protected walkways around the site.