Hopewell Sioux Burial Mound Saved from University Destruction in Kosciusko County, Indiana

 One of the finest Native American burial mounds in northern Indiana, dating from 200 B.C. -200 A.D. was scheduled to be excavated and destroyed by one of Indiana's university archaeological schools.  Locals objected to the digging and inevitable destruction of this American treasure, but grant money had already been authorized to have the mound destroyed.  Despite this, when the university archaeologists left at night, locals would remove their stakes used in recording the dig. After weeks of frustration, the archaeologist gave up on their criminal act and left.

  
    The importance of this mound is that it links Kosciusko County mound builders with those in central Ohio. The Sioux Hopewell in Ohio and shared similar mortuary practices. This is most telling in the shape of the mound in Kosciusko County that is identical to many others in central Ohio that are loaf shaped and tapered on one end.
   The shape of this burial mound if most prominent in several of the large earthworks in Chillicothe, Ohio, more specifically at Mound City, and at the Liberty Works. Unfortunately, these tow mounds were destroyed by the Ohio Historical Society.

Sloped burial mound identical to the one in Kosciusko County, Indiana that was once inside the Liberty Works, near Chillicothe Ohio.  The mound was completely leveled by the Ohio Historical Society.