Mound

A mound is a

mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically higher elevation on any surface. Artificial mounds have been created for a variety of reasons throughout history, including habitation (see Tell and Terp), ceremonial (platform mound), burial (tumulus), and commemorative purposes (e.g. Kościuszko Mound

).

Archaeology

North American archaeology

In the archaeology of the United States and Canada, a mound is a deliberately constructed elevated earthen structure or earthwork, intended for a range of potential uses. In European and Asian archaeology, the word "tumulus" may be used as a synonym for an artificial hill, particularly if the hill is related to particular burial customs.

While the term "mound" may be applied to historic constructions, most mounds in the United States are pre-Columbian earthworks, built by

petroforms

within them, on them, or near them.

While these mounds are perhaps not as famous as

Hopewell culture

used mounds as markers of complex astronomical alignments related to ceremonies.

Mounds and related earthworks are the only significant monumental construction in pre-Columbian Eastern and Central North America. peoples.^{[citation needed]}

Mounds are given different names depending on which culture they strive from. They can be located all across the world in spots such as Asia, Europe and the Americas. "Mound builders" have more commonly been associated with the mounds in the Americas. They all have different meanings and sometimes are constructed as animals and can be clearly seen from aerial views.

India

Kankali Tila

Jain stupa was excavated here in 1890-91 by Dr. Fuhrer.^[3]

Archaeology elsewhere

Mound, as a technical term in archaeology, is not generally in favor in the rest of the world.^{[citation needed]} More specific local terminology is preferred, and each of these terms has its own article (see below).

Mound types

Cairn
- Chambered cairn
Effigy mound
Kofun (Japanese mounds)
Platform mound
Subglacial mound
Tell (also includes multi-lingual synonyms for mounds in the Near East)
Terp (European dwelling mounds located in wetlands like flood plains and salt marshes)
Tumulus (barrow)
- Bank barrow
- Bell barrow
- Bowl barrow
- Chambered long barrow
- Kurgan
- Long barrow
- Oval barrow

References

^ National Park Service (August 30, 2015). "Effigy Moundbuilders". National Park Service. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
^ Smith, C. R. (March 9, 2000). "An Introduction to North America's Native People: Adena". Cabrillo College. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
^ Smith, Vincent Arthur (1901). The Jain stupa and other antiquities of Mathura. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

External links

The dictionary definition of mound at Wiktionary
"Mound" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). 1911.

[1] National Park Service (August 30, 2015). "Effigy Moundbuilders". National Park Service. Retrieved August 30, 2015.

[2] Smith, C. R. (March 9, 2000). "An Introduction to North America's Native People: Adena". Cabrillo College. Retrieved August 30, 2015.

[3] Smith, Vincent Arthur (1901). The Jain stupa and other antiquities of Mathura. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

[3]