ATHENS — Several residents of southeastern Ohio have raised concerns about a Native American mound on private property in Athens County that apparently was damaged by machinery used to clear-cut the land.

Tom Wolf, a spokesman for the Ohio History Connection, confirmed that a Native American mound was on the property and is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Wolf Plains Archaeological District. That’s a grouping of mounds, most of which are in The Plains, about five miles northwest of Athens.

The site is part of 250-plus acres that is owned by Athens-based NML Gallia LLC and has been billed as a major potential site for commercial development that could bring 250 to 500 jobs to Athens County. A lack of developable land is a common obstacle for southeast Ohio communities trying to bring jobs to an area that badly needs them.

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The mound probably was built by the Adena native culture 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, Wolf said. Mounds were often a part of cultural rituals among various Native American groups, including burials.

Two area residents said in recent interviews that they have seen what appears to be damage to the mound from heavy equipment.

“I went out there just to see what I could find, and as I approached the top of a ridge, I came to realize that what I was seeing was a large Indian mound that almost had been cut in half,” one of the residents said, requesting anonymity because he did not have permission to be on the property.

Alan Tonetti, a trustee with the Ohio Archaeological Council, said last week that his group is concerned after hearing reports that the mound was damaged.

His organization fields dozens of reports of Native American burial sites being damaged every year.

“Right now under Ohio law, if you own the property, you can do whatever you want to a mound or earthwork,” Tonetti said.

He said that his organization has worked with state Rep. Gary Scherer, a Circleville Republican, to craft legislation addressing that. Private landowners with mounds or earthworks on their properties might be required to get a permit from the state Historic Preservation Office before disturbing those sites.

Amanda McCoy, Scherer’s legislative aide, said a bill regarding “human burials and remains” could be introduced by Scherer later this year.

Harold Laughlin, the business agent listed for NML Gallia, has said he had “no idea” that a mound was on the property near The Plains, and he objected to anyone trespassing there.

Wolf said his agency hopes to advise communities wrestling with the issue of the preservation of mounds and earthworks versus development.

He said the complex of Adena earthworks in The Plains is important.

“An additional part of the entire district’s significance, including the mound in question, is its potential to yield information that adds to our understanding of these ancient people,” he said.

NOTE: A previous version had an incorrect name for the Ohio Archaeological Council.

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