Edwin Hamilton Davis (1811-1888) of Chillicothe, Ohio was an amateur archaeologist, and was one of the duo known as “Squier and Davis,” who surveyed the Native American mounds and earthworks here in Ross County.
Along with Ephraim George Squier, who had surveying experience, Davis carefully mapped and explored over one hundred earthworks, using a methodical approach of recording the data. The two are credited with re-discovering the famous Serpent Mound, and their maps were used in the modern re-creation of the earthwork group that makes up the Hopewell Culture National Park. Their systematic approach to the exploration helped create the field of archaeology as a scientific discipline.
The project proved to be expensive, and both had to secure financing for the work. They wrote to scientific and antiquarian institutions back east for funding after their initial digs turned up interesting artifacts. "I will show you some things you never dreamed of in your philosophy," Squier wrote to his father.
Their drawings of their excavations showed the earthworks from above, as well as cross-sections of the dig. In some instances, they were innacurate, such as drawing half-circles as complete because they assumed there had once been a complete circle, and rounding off their figures, but theirs was the first effort at accurately mapping these features.
It was fortunate they did this survey, because many of these works have now been destroyed as the area became more settled and people used the land for farming and building.
The Smithsonian published their work as The Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley” in 1848, the first book published by the insitituion.
Squier and Davis had a bitter feud over the credit given to each. They had hoped interest in the mounds would make the massive collection of artifacts they’d uncovered in the digs valuable, but sadly, American museums showed little interest. Davis ended up selling the collection to an Englishman who etablished a museum in his homeland. This amazing part of Ohio history is in the British Museum today.
In 1841, Davis married Lucy Woodbridge. The Ross County Historical Society has a charming pastel portrait of two of their daughters, Lucy and Eleanor, on display in the parlor of the museum.
