ABSTRACT
Only two hundred years ago, in the woodlands of Eastern North America, there were tens of thousands of large earthen mounds, all of which had been built by Native Americans. They were impressive structures. Visitors who saw them were amazed by the size of many, by their number, and by the intricacy of their design. 1 Yet the significance of these earthworks, indeed, their very existence, is one of the best kept secrets of American history. Even the people who now live on or beside the mound sites are more likely to be familiar with the Native American past of Mexico, the Andes, or the U.S. Southwest than with the heritage of their own region.
