The Bluegrass State is known not only for its beauty, but also for its rich history and rare collection of artifacts. There is likely not a plot of land anywhere in Kentucky where an arrowhead, bead, archaic tool, or old bone hasn’t been found. We are not the first people to fall in love with this part of the country and will likely not be the last! Here are some ancient artifacts and burial sites founds in Kentucky:

1. Adena Mounds
adena mound, 4470 Mt Horeb Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
Mound Builder
dena mounds and earthworks are scattered across central Kentucky's Bluegrass region; however, these people kept no written records. Bourbon County is home to large circular village/mounds, each having a personal plaza. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places under Adena and date back to 1200-1400 CE.
2. Baker's
Muhlenberg County, KY, USA
Krailec/Wikipedia
In beautiful Muhlenberg County, a burial mound was found with four humans, two dogs, 55 stone tools, and over 44 artifacts. It is believed to be from the Middle Archaic Period, making it one of the more fascinating ruins in Kentucky.
3. Franklin Giants
Fritz Zimmerman
In Kentucky, a so-called giant over nine feet tall was found in a burial mound on a farm 12 feet beneath the surface. There were copper bands around the neck and the skull fit over top of a normal head with extra space, making it one of the most fascinating archaeological finds in Kentucky.
4. Kentucky Giants
Freddie Francis
Similarly, in a cave near Louisville, Kentucky, two men claimed to have discovered three different skeletons, which they believed to be "Kentucky giants." Each of these measured over 9 feet tall, making for a baffling and extraordinary discovery.

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5. Green River Shell Middens
Nyttend/Wikipedia
These ancient pits of archaic waste are located all along the Green River and hold skeletal remains, food, and human waste, along with other things. The area covers Muhlenberg, Henderson, Butler, Ohio, and McLean Counties in Kentucky.
6. Indian Knoll
Paradise, KY 42320, USA
Clio
This ancient community in Paradise, Kentucky, is home to over 1,200 burials, along with hearths, pottery, projectiles, and over 65,000 artifacts that are a staggering 5,300 years old.
7. Roundhill Mound
Richmond, KY, USA
Aramgar/Wikipedia
This ancient burial mound in Richmond has been attributed to the Adena Culture in Kentucky.
8. Holly Creek
New Illuminati
A rock ledge along the eastern central area of this Kentucky Creek held the remains of an 8’ 9" skeleton, causing more rumors of the infamous (you guessed it) Kentucky giants to swirl.

Kentucky has burial mounds in almost every county, some more prominent then others. Many have been destroyed over the years due to residential development. If you know of any unusual archaeological discoveries or ancient Kentucky artifacts, please comment below!

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Ancient Artifacts in Kentucky

Sarah M. | December 26, 2022

What's the most famous ancient discovery in Kentucky?

While the "Kentucky giants" are easily the most famous (or infamous) archaeological discovery in Kentucky, there is an ancient mound in the Bluegrass State that puzzles archaeologists to this day. The Mount Horeb Earthworks Complex in Lexington, Kentucky, is one of the most intriguing subterranean wonders in the Bluegrass, as it's hiding right in plain sight. The earthwork at Mt. Horeb was constructed by the ancient Adena people about 2,000 years ago in order to conduct ceremonies and rituals important to their culture. The site consists of two major components, the Mount Horeb Site 1 and the Peter Village enclosure, along with several smaller features including the Grimes Village site, Tarleton Mound, and Fisher Mound. This "sacred circle" earthwork at Adena Park caught the attention of historians in the early 1820s. The site was partially excavated in 1939 as part of Kentucky’s statewide depression-relief efforts funded by the Works Projects Administration. At that time, it was owned by the Kentucky Archaeological Society, which had purchased the site in 1936. Most recently, the site has been owned and maintained by the University of Kentucky for over 30 years. It's a fascinating place to explore and intriguing piece of Kentucky history to learn about!

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