Some Views of the Formations and Structural
Stones on Browning Mountain
near the Ghost Town of Elkinsville,
Johnson Township, Brown County, Indiana

by Geoffrey Friedley, Diana Friedley, and Julian Livingston

Two days before Thanksgiving 2003 we obtained permission to visit the top of Browning Mountain (private property) and attempted to do so. Actually, the footing was uncertain enough that only one member (Geoff Friedley) was able to scale the hill and take these pictures. Depicted are the stones of Keokuk limestone as found on top of the 930 foot Browning Hill. The blocks are a non-native siltstone, hewn with right angles, and occasional angular fillets, 3-4 ft wide, 2-3 ft thick, and 5-15 ft long. There is a stick approximately 9 feet long in one of the pictures to help gauge the size of the blocks. The nearest Keokuk limestone source is believed to be near Edwardsville, in Floyd County, Indiana. That outcropping is along former Indiana Highway 62, a short distance northeast of Edwardsville, near the center of the NE Quarter of Sec. 1, T3S, R5E, a remarkable distance from Brown County, if the stones were moved by manpower in pre-Columbian times. It is known that Miami Indians come from Iowa to make use of this site for certain ceremonies to this day; what these ceremonies are we do not know. Geoff took note of the absolute unrelenting silence of the site which he found somewhat frightening if I am quoting him correctly.

More information was obtained at a second visit to this site
by Susan Washabaugh, Alec Washabaugh, Pearce Washabaugh, and Julian Livingston

At this vist (on a warm day in April), I was able to complete the climb via a different path on north side. We did obtain information that most of the site is now on public land under the management of Hoosier Forests; this coupled with a remark from a local at the first visit suggested that the site is really being looked after by Brown County State Park. The same stones and features that Geoff photographed and others observed were seen by us. In addition, it was noted that most of the stones were at the west end of the site. Concerning the stones, I noted that all outcropping that I could find on top appeared to be what we called "sandstone," a kind of brownish layered stone that crumbled easily. The stones that we felt were worked or cut in some way, typically, were a whitish sort of stone that did not look like the crumbled "sandstone" underfoot everywhere.

I do not want to contribute to a mystery idea or stir any of that, but I would like to understand why on the top of the hill there was not a single bird heard or sighted, or any small ground animal like chipmunk or squirrel. The silence was absolute, unbroken. There were silent insects such as butterflys and moths, but no bees flies, or any other noisy critter. I don't think I have ever heard of an approximately 950 foot hill daunting any animals and certainly the butterflies were there, so what gives? We heard the "silence" too, and it was amazing!

We noted numerous mounds measuring ~3ft tall and ~6ft long located on the west end. There were what appeared to be markings on trees in the form of paint dabs and rings around the trunks in this mound area. Some photos from this visit have been added below. More may be on the way.

For a book about the village at the foot of this site, order from the Monroe County History Center - Museum Store. The Dusty Road Leads to Elkinsville by Robert "Brown County Bob" Cross. pgs: 71, 74, 75, 105, and more. The store has it even if you don't find it in the online catalog. Also call: 1-812-332-2517 .


Hewn blocks with right angles and an angular fillet
on one, possibly suitable for affixing roof structures
on lintels.


Ceremonial parapet with possible altar stone at right.


Ceremonial parapet with possible rectangular altar stone in center.


Ceremonial circle not so recently used. Note swept
area beneath large stones. One might go so far as to speculate
that the stone beneath the large stone was to level it.


Ceremonial circle with log seating, very neatly swept,
with ashes pulverized and arranged in a careful pile.
Small mounds that weren't noted until the second visit
can be seen just outside the limits of the circle.

More photos added after second visit:


Curved cut marks visible on stone surface. Ignore
the carved in names of various "visitors." Curved
marks explained as wear on "ancient" blade used to
cut the stone. The center slowly wears away into a
curve.


Small mounds with log across showing the size and
shape. Size and shape of the mounds was obscured
by leaf cover.


One of most interesting small mound pictures showing
numerous mounds approximately 3' tall and 6' long.
The shadow of a tree goes up and over two of the nearby
mounds delineating them nicely for this photo.
Note young tree in middle with paint marks circling the bark,
as if to mark the site for some purpose (one of several).
See detail below.


Detail of paint marked tree in center.


Pond in region of small mounds with Susan and Alec
observing. This pond was about 40' by 20'. All others
seen were smaller.