Some 11,000 years ago, Indigenous peoples throughout what is now the United States constructed the first mound and then began to build complex earthen monuments, burial mounds, effigy mounds, platform mounds, and geometric earthworks as their culture and population expanded.By 2,000 years ago, massive fortified, palisade-walled cities, towns, and villages—focused on a central complex of mounds and plaza areas—appeared in many areas of America and reached their peak around 900-1400 A.D. These remarkable structures reveal advanced knowledge of engineering, astronomy, spirituality, and community organization. They are frequently called “Mound Builders,” but archaeology describes several overlapping mound cultures from Archaic, Adena, Hopewell, to Mississippian. They made incredible artifacts of pottery, copper, obsidian, and other exotic materials and had an intricate belief system about the soul’s journey to the sky world after death. It is likely the most unappreciated culture in the world. Sadly, their culture was decimated by battles and diseases brought to them by Spanish conquistadores who trekked through the continent looking for gold in the 1500s.

It is thought that over 1 million mounds once existed, but today, perhaps only 100,000 remain. The sacred sites and enormous earthworks associated with them are one of the most unappreciated archaeological treasures in the world. America has the largest and most complex formations of geometric earthworks in the world and the largest mound (near St. Louis) has a base larger than the Great Pyramid. This oversize hardcover book describes mounds in 49 states and contains over 1200 site descriptions, many of which are large mound complexes with museums and open to the public. The book is aimed at the general public to increase awareness of this remarkable culture that is all-but ignored by the American educational system.

This encyclopedia is the most comprehensive public guide in existence to America's mounds and earthworks. Sites are arranged alphabetically by state and include: Archaic sites, Adena culture sites, Hopewell earthworks and mounds, and Mississippian sites. The book contains:

• Over 1,700 b/w photos, maps, and illustrations 

• 111 site reconstructions made by archaeological illustrators 

• Over 1200 Mound site entires

• Rare photos of stone chambers and artifacts found in excavated mounds 

• Extensive index of over 2300 entries listed by state, containing all site and mound names along with locations

• Glossary of terms

• Path of Souls death journey explanation

• Photo gallery

The book is a large hardcover (8.75 x 11.25) with green and red cloth with gold foil stamping (no paper jacket). This Native American book is a revised, updated, and enhanced version of the first and second editions.