The Adena people began raising mounds over their burials, which they placed in prominent locations to act as territorial markers. A mound would be built over an initial burial in a pit and would grow as others were added.
Some were inhumations (complete burials), others cremations or wrapped bundles of bones collected after the body had decayed away.
Rites became more complex in the 1st century AD when chambers and burial enclosures were introduced. In these one or more bodies were probably exposed for some time before the whole structure was burnt down and a mound erected over the remains. Repetitions of this for later interments resulted in massive mounds being constructed.
Some individuals were accompanied by a rich array of grave goods: it has been suggested these were community leaders.
