The author was an archaeologist who had worked on excavations around the Midwestern, Southeastern and northeastern U.S., as well as in Vancouver and Siberia. He had also published numerous articles in scientific and archaeological periodicals. This book was sponsored by the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, and is a survey of archaeological works and findings throughout the state, written for a general audience.

Some of the topics included are:

Paleolithic Man: the evidence for his existence
Theories of the origin and migrations of North American Indians
The Mound Builders. Ohio mound builders. Theories as to their affiliation with historic tribes.
The Enclosures of Ohio. Works at Newark, Marietta, Portsmouth, Pike County, Ross County etc.
Smaller Enclosures. Works of irregular construction (i.e. houses)
Hill-top Enclosures. Fort Ancient, Spruce Hill, Fort Hill, Glenford Fort, Fort Miami etc.
Graded Ways, Terraces, Effigies, anomalous structures
Structure and Content of Mounds (a survey of mounds in a number of counties)
Stone Mounds, stone graves, cemeteries, village sites
Manufactured Articles. Axes, celts, gouges, pestles, mullers, hammers, mortars
Stones for Decorative or Ceremonial Purposes. Gorgets, pipes
Chipped Stone Articles. Arrows, perforators, scrapers, serration.
Other Manufactured Articles. Bone, shell, pottery, fabric, mica, copper.

There are 300 illustrations, of a wide variety of mounds, archaeological works and collected artifacts.