The Origins of the Adena Culture

Dating of a site called Watson Break suggested that large-scale earthworks may have been created as long ago as 5,500 years ago. This is a time comparable to the kurgen cultures of the Pontic Caspian steppe. Another very ancient emergence of mounds was further north in Ohio State and there wasn't just one instance or coalescence but a number of them over a wide area within the state. The burial practices of the adena culture varied from site to site with some bodies being buried while others were cremated. Some of the individual's buried would be covered with red ochre which is a tradition that can be found with many prehistoric and ancient burials