The Enon Adena Mound captured the imaginations of the frontiersmen. Early settlers reported lots of small mounds in this area. In Bethel Twp., two large complexes of mounds and walls, similar to, but smaller than, Fort Ancient, were named after the farmers who owned them, Campbell and Boblett.
During the 1930’s and 1940’s Clark County Historical Society curator Arthur Altick mapped and excavated many of the mounds on the high plateaus along the Mad River. Part of his focus was the Campbell and Boblett earthworks in Bethel Twp. These were located within sight of each other on either side of the creek along the north ridgeline above the Mad.
For decades, the artifacts he recovered were stored in boxes at the Heritage Center of Clark County.
Recently a new display was unveiled that gives us a closer look at the artifacts Altick dug up.
Altick thought the Campbell and Boblett mounds and walls were Adena like the mound in Enon, but now archeologists believe these groupings were most likely Hopewell from 100 B.C. – 500 A.D. well before the Adena arrived.
Altick’s indexed artifacts reveal to us a hunting and gathering type of culture that lived along the ridges above the Mad River. From the remnants found, we know they hunted buffalo, bear and elk and ate turtles and clams. They wore bears teeth for decoration. There is evidence of trade. Stone hoes tell of the beginnings of farming.
Go spend a fascinating hour or two getting acquainted with those who loved the Mad River Valley long before we did.