Talking Bones: Secrets Of Indian Burial Mounds,  written by William O. Steele with drawings by Carlos Llerena-Aguirre. Copyright 1978, printed in the U.S.A. by Xerox Education Publications, Middletown Connecticut. Paperback book, 61 printed pages, 8" x 5.25" (203mm x 133mm) .

Condition:  the book is in very good condition with some minor yellowing of the pages due to age.

Synopsis: Talking Bones explores what we know about four ancient Native American groups by looking at the burial mounds they built along the Ohio River and its smaller rivers. Steele shares details about how these mounds were discovered, dug up, and what items and remains were found inside.

He also brings to life scenes people might have experienced, like the preparation for burying an Adena leader, rituals where someone called a “bone picker” cleaned the bones, and gatherings around special wooden poles used in ceremonies, similar to traditions seen in Choctaw culture.

He explains cultural aspects, like simpler shell mounds, which may have started as trash dumps but were later used as burial places and acted as a kind of record of history. He also talks about more complex Hopewell mounds, suggesting these were linked to spiritual communities that had deep connections to death rituals.

Steele mixes accurate archaeological information with storytelling, some educated guesses, and honest talk about what we still don’t know.

The book is mainly for younger readers, giving historical and cultural facts in easy-to-understand words, along with detailed and colorful illustrations.

The story is both informative and feels like you’re stepping into the past, making it simple enough for kids to follow, but also deep enough to show the quiet and mysterious side of ancient ways of dealing with death.