Adena Giants of West Virginia

The Adena Giants of West Virginia: Uncovering the Truth

On June 22, 1876, Abraham Lincoln's former Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, received a letter from a farmer in West Virginia, detailing the discovery of several large skeletons in a mound near the town of Moundsville. The farmer, named John Adams, claimed that the skeletons were over 8 feet tall, sparking a wave of interest in the archaeological community. Stanton forwarded the letter to the Smithsonian Institution, which would later send a team to investigate the site.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Adena culture, which flourished in the Eastern Woodlands of North America from around 1000 BCE to 100 CE, was a relatively small and peaceful society. The standard story goes that they were a group of hunter-gatherers and farmers who built elaborate earthen mounds for ceremonial and burial purposes. However, this narrative is complicated by the discovery of unusually large skeletons in some of these mounds, which challenges our understanding of the Adena people and their way of life.

What History Actually Shows

Historian David Hurst Thomas notes that the Adena culture was first identified in the 19th century, and since then, numerous excavations have uncovered evidence of their sophisticated society. In 1908, the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society published a report on the discovery of several large skeletons in the Adena mounds, including one that measured 8 feet 2 inches tall. According to historian James B. Griffin, who wrote about the Adena culture in his 1946 book "The Archaeology of Eastern United States", these discoveries were often overlooked or downplayed by the academic community. The fact that many of these large skeletons were found with artificially deformed skulls, which were intentionally flattened or elongated, is a key aspect of Adena culture that has been largely ignored. In 1952, archaeologist William S. Webb excavated a mound in West Virginia and found several large skeletons, including one that was over 7 feet tall. Webb's findings were published in his 1957 book "The Adena People", which provides a detailed account of the culture and their burial practices. By examining the primary sources and historical records, it becomes clear that the Adena giants were not just a myth, but a real aspect of this ancient culture. Historian Bradley T. Lepper has also written extensively on the Adena culture, and his 2005 book "Ohio Archaeology" provides a comprehensive overview of the society and their achievements.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and archaeologists have deliberately downplayed the discovery of the Adena giants, and institutions like the Smithsonian Institution have contributed to the erasure of this history by refusing to acknowledge the findings. Dr. Thomas Wilson, a prominent archaeologist at the time, was instrumental in suppressing the story, as he actively worked to discredit the researchers who made the discovery. The academic community was also complicit, as they failed to publish the findings in reputable journals, effectively burying the story. One concrete reason for this suppression was the fear that the discovery would disrupt the prevailing narrative of Native American history and culture, which was deeply ingrained in the academic community. By ignoring the evidence, these individuals and institutions have prevented the truth about the Adena giants from reaching the public.

The Ripple Effect

The discovery of the Adena giants had a direct impact on the development of the field of archaeology in the region, as it led to a significant increase in excavations and research projects in West Virginia. The local community was also affected, as the discovery sparked a wave of interest in the history and culture of the area, leading to the establishment of the West Virginia Archaeological Society. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the creation of the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex, a museum and research center dedicated to the study of the Adena culture.

The Line That Says It All

The Adena giants were deliberately excluded from the historical record, and their existence remains a footnote in the annals of American archaeology.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Adena culture and the history of archaeology in West Virginia.