Criel Mound, Prehistoric burial mound in South Charleston, United States
Criel Mound is a conical earthwork located in the center of Staunton Park in South Charleston, measuring 140 feet across and standing 25 feet tall at its peak. The structure demonstrates ancient construction methods and remains a protected example of Native American building practices from prehistoric times.
The mound was constructed between 250 and 150 BC as part of a larger complex of about 50 earthworks stretching from Charleston to Institute. These works reveal how the region was settled and organized by the people who lived across this landscape over many generations.
The mound was named after an early settler and now sits within a park where visitors can see its distinctive shape and scale as a focal point. It bridges the indigenous past with the modern city landscape, standing as a reminder of the people who inhabited this region long before current settlement.
The site sits along MacCorkle Avenue and is easily accessible from the street for viewing at any time. Visitors can walk around the mound and explore the park grounds to see the structure from different angles and understand its setting within the urban landscape.
In the late 1800s, residents dramatically altered the mound by constructing a horse racing track around its edge and flattening its summit to create a judge's platform. These changes reveal how the site served different community purposes before it was eventually protected as a historic place.
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