Giant Legends of South Charleston and Moundsville, West Virginia

Having lived in South Charleston, WV for a few years when I was a child, I remember seeing the giant mounds. Some locals hardly noticed them but others say they always had an eerie feeling when they went past them.

Today, I am going to dive deeper into these mysterious mounds in West Virginia.

In the rolling hills and ancient mounds of West Virginia, whispers of giants have long echoed through the ages. South Charleston and Moundsville, two towns steeped in history, are home to intriguing tales of colossal beings who may have once walked the land.

These stories, blending Native American lore, archaeological curiosities, and local legend, continue to captivate residents and researchers alike.

Today, we dive into the enigma of the giants said to have roamed these regions, exploring the evidence, myths, and modern fascination surrounding them.

The Mound Builders and Giant Legends

South Charleston and Moundsville are renowned for their ancient earthworks, constructed by the Adena and Hopewell cultures between 1000 BCE and 500 CE. The most famous of these is the Criel Mound in South Charleston, a 33-foot-tall burial mound, and the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville, one of the largest conical mounds in the United States, standing at 62 feet tall. These monumental structures have long been associated with stories of a race of giants, fueled by early archaeological findings and oral traditions.

According to Native American legends, particularly those of the Shawnee and Cherokee, a race of unusually tall and powerful beings once inhabited the Ohio River Valley. These "giants" were described as towering figures, sometimes standing over 7 feet tall, with immense strength and a commanding presence. While some stories portray them as benevolent protectors, others depict them as formidable warriors who clashed with early human tribes.

The Archaeological Spark

The notion of giants gained traction in the 19th century when amateur archaeologists and settlers began excavating the mounds. Reports from the time, often sensationalized, claimed the discovery of oversized human skeletons, some allegedly measuring between 7 and 9 feet in length. In Moundsville, near the Grave Creek Mound, early excavations in the 1830s reportedly uncovered skeletons of extraordinary size, accompanied by artifacts like copper jewelry and stone tools. Similarly, in South Charleston, digs around the Criel Mound in the late 1800s allegedly revealed large skeletal remains, though detailed documentation is scarce.

One notable account comes from the Smithsonian Institution’s Bureau of Ethnology reports in the 1880s, which described skeletons of "unusual size" found in West Virginia mounds. However, many of these findings were poorly documented, and the remains have either been lost, reburied, or dismissed as exaggerations by modern archaeologists. Skeptics argue that soil conditions in the region would unlikely preserve such bones for centuries, while others point to the possibility of misidentification—perhaps mistaking animal bones or multiple burials for single, oversized skeletons.

The Giant Controversy

The idea of giants in West Virginia has sparked heated debate. Mainstream archaeology attributes the mounds to the Adena and Hopewell peoples, who were of average stature based on verified skeletal evidence. Critics of the giant theory suggest that early reports were influenced by a mix of folklore, wishful thinking, and the era’s fascination with biblical tales of giants like Goliath. Yet, proponents of the giant hypothesis argue that the Smithsonian and other institutions may have suppressed evidence to fit a conventional narrative, a claim often echoed in alternative history circles.

Local historian John Smithers, who has studied the mounds for decades, notes, “The giant stories are part of the cultural fabric here. Whether they were literal giants or simply tall, robust individuals, the legends reflect how our ancestors made sense of these massive earthworks.” Smithers points to the lack of definitive evidence but acknowledges that the absence of preserved skeletons doesn’t entirely disprove the tales.

Modern Fascination and Cryptozoology

Today, the legend of West Virginia’s giants thrives in the realm of cryptozoology and popular culture. Blogs, podcasts, and TV shows like Mountain Monsters have explored the possibility that these giants were not merely ancient humans but perhaps a distinct species or even supernatural entities. Some locals in Moundsville claim to have seen strange, oversized figures in the woods near the Grave Creek Mound, though these sightings are often attributed to overactive imaginations or misidentified wildlife.

In South Charleston, the Criel Mound remains a point of pride and mystery. Local events, like the annual Mound Festival, celebrate the area’s ancient history while embracing the giant lore as a draw for tourists. Visitors to the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville can explore a museum that details the mound’s history, though it focuses on the Adena culture rather than speculative giants.

The Search Continues

While hard evidence of giants remains elusive, the stories persist, fueled by a mix of historical accounts, local pride, and the human love for mystery. Recent advancements in ground-penetrating radar and non-invasive archaeology could offer new insights into the mounds without disturbing their sanctity, potentially shedding light on what lies beneath.

For now, I am going to say the giants of South Charleston and Moundsville remain a tantalizing enigma—a blend of history, myth, and the enduring allure of the unknown.

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