Marietta Earthworks early drawing by Winthrop Sargent. CLICK ON LINK BELOW. Scroll to see comments by an official of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a key to notes in the drawing, and Sargent’s original transmittal letter, and the earthworks drawing.
Marietta Earthworks
They called them ancient ruins, ancient remains, antiquities, curiosities of the mountains. We know them as Indian Mounds, or locally as the Marietta Earthworks. The word "curiosity" conveyed the sense of awe and mystery prevalent at the time. These were not the work of American Indians. Two of the platform mounds - Quadranao at Camp Tupper park and Capitolium at the Washington County Public Library - are aligned with the setting sun on the Winter Solstice.
Numerous residents and visitors viewed the earthworks, which were much more extensive than the remnants that exist today. Some examples:
Joseph Buell on arrival at Fort Harmar, spring 1786: "I took a walk in the woods (with) Corp’l Hartshorn to view the curiosities of the Mountains which were very pleasing..."
James Backus on May 30, 1788: "Was pleased with the large mound and 'old ruins,' as they are called. Appear to be artificial, but am not convinced of their origin."
Prince Louis Philippe, future King of France in December 1797: Toured Marietta and viewed "interesting ancient remains."
The Marietta earthworks were among the very the first to be documented in America. Their origin was being debated in the 1780s by such distinguished luminaries as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Noah Webster, and scholars at Harvard and Yale. This drawing was sent by Winthrop Sargent to the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Cambridge MA on March 27, 1787. Earthworks maps by others were sent to Harvard and Yale.
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