The Mound Builders and Native Inhabitants of West Virginia: From Ancient Times to Today
The history of West Virginia’s Native inhabitants is deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Mound Builders, particularly the Adena and Hopewell cultures. Their monumental earthworks still dot the landscape. Here’s an overview of their story, spanning millennia to the present day:
1. The Mound Builders: Adena and Hopewell Cultures
- Adena Culture (1000 B.C.–200 A.D.):
The Adena, the earliest known Mound Builders in the region, constructed over 400 earthen mounds in West Virginia, primarily for ceremonial burials. These mounds, such as the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville (62 feet high, 240 feet wide), were built in stages over generations. They often covered log tombs of elites like chiefs or shamans. Commoners were typically cremated and buried in simpler graves23. Artifacts like copper beads, mica ornaments, and inscribed tablets found in these mounds suggest trade networks spanning the continent410.- The Adena lived in circular homes with bark or wicker walls. They practiced early agriculture, cultivating crops like sunflowers and gourds6.
- Hopewell Influence (500 B.C.–500 A.D.):
The Hopewell culture, originating in the Illinois Valley, expanded into West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley. They constructed elaborate earthworks like the Criel Mound in South Charleston. Their society supported specialized artisans who crafted intricate copper jewelry, stone pipes, and mica cutouts, reflecting both religious and economic sophistication49.
2. Pre-Colonial Timeline
- Paleo-Indians (11,000–7000 B.C.):
Nomadic hunters followed megafauna like mammoths into the region. They left fluted spear points along rivers like the Ohio89. - Archaic Period (7000–1000 B.C.):
As large game dwindled, groups transitioned to hunting small animals, fishing, and gathering. The St. Albans site in Kanawha County reveals one of the earliest permanent settlements, with evidence of shellfish harvesting9. - Woodland Period (1000 B.C.–1600 A.D.):
Marked by the rise of mound-building, agriculture, and pottery. The Adena and Hopewell dominated this era, leaving behind burial complexes and trade goods810.
3. European Contact and Displacement
- Colonial Era (1600s–1800s):
By the 17th century, tribes like the Shawnee, Delaware, and Cherokee inhabited the region. They often clashed with European settlers. The Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) weakened Native resistance, enabling colonial expansion12. - Mound Builder Myth:
European settlers propagated the myth that a “lost white race” built the mounds. They dismissed Native Americans as “too primitive.” This pseudoscience justified policies like the Indian Removal Act and obscured Indigenous heritage132.
4. Suppression and Reclamation
- Forced Assimilation (19th–20th Century):
Native Americans in West Virginia faced relocation, segregation, and erasure. Many were forced to identify as “white” or “colored.” State curricula falsely depicted the region as a “hunting ground” devoid of prior inhabitants12. - Modern Recognition:
In 1996, West Virginia’s Senate passed a resolution acknowledging Native Americans as the state’s original inhabitants. Today, 11,000 residents claim Native ancestry. Groups like the Appalachian American Indians of West Virginia work to revive cultural practices12.
5. Preservation and Legacy
- Archaeological Sites:
The Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex (now a state park and museum) and the Delf Norona Museum showcase Adena artifacts. They educate visitors about their legacy610. - Ongoing Challenges:
While myths like the “Mound Builder hoax” persist in fringe theories, tribes like the Shawnee have reclaimed sites such as Ohio’s Serpent Mound. They assert their ancestral ties13.
Conclusion
West Virginia’s Native history is a testament to resilience. From the Adena’s monumental earthworks to modern efforts to reclaim heritage, the story of its Indigenous peoples reflects both cultural richness and the enduring impact of colonization. Preservation of mounds like Grave Creek ensures their legacy endures for future generations.
https://youtu.be/_x_PdTm8SIA
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Visibility: Rain
*GPS Coordinate Data Provided on bottom left corner with date and speed*
Destinations in West Virginia by appearance:
South Charleston
Dunbar
Institute
Cross Lanes
Nitro
Saint Albans (20:00)
Jefferson
US119/Corridor G (1:25:00)
Southridge
Charleston (1:56:00)
Patrick Street – Sissonville Road
Sissonville (2:02:00)
Parkersburgh Road
Pocatalico
Martin’s Branch
Big Tyler Road (2:46:00)
US60/MacCorkle Avenue (3:23:00)
Tootin’ Tunnel (3:26:00)
Saint Albans Mall (3:30:00)
Tornado (3:45:00)
Smith Creek – Coal River Road – Green View Road
Alum Creek (3:56:00)
West Virginia State University (4:31:00)
South Charleston Mound (4:48:00)
Listen while you ride: My Spotify Playlists
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FI2WfzKqFIz5dD0BOA1iw?si=4f12084e12b247ec – Mix
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5IWoDtlir7k6eww0PNVdGh?si=dca253ebf4e94ac1 – Chill
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TNiUuJHvogwtk7ZxWoOpl?si=d4594c2bf5ff4328 – Upbeat
