woodland period moundbuilders of the bluegrass - Kentucky ...

daily activities, and only the most basic facts about their beliefs andceremonies.They did not write about their lives. The record of their historyand culture is contained in the patterns of the objects that remain inthe ground at their campsites and within their remarkable moundsand earthworks. Fragile, unique, irreplaceable: these sites are theAdena peoples’ legacy. Because we live in their homeland, we have aresponsibility to preserve and protect that legacy. We are the stewards oftheir heritage.The growth of towns and cities threatens these sites daily. So, too,does farming and the construction of roads and bridges. Fortunately,programs are now in place to protect or excavate the most important sitesbefore construction projects destroy them.The willful actions of looters, however, also threaten Adena moundsand campsites. These people dig for artifacts and human bones.Then they sell them. These people can destroy several hundred yearsof prehistory in just a few hours. They rob all Kentuckians of theopportunity to learn about the past.In Kentucky, disturbing someone’s grave is illegal, no matter howlong ago they were buried. Prehistoric mounds are considered cemeteriesand are protected as such.If you discover human bones in the woods, in a plowed field, or inyour garden, leave them in place. Contact your county coroner, and local,Threats to Adena mounds, like this one in Mt. Sterling, will continueto take place as modern people follow their own lives.