Book Reviews Perceptions Magazine, June 2026
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks
Third Edition
By Gregory L. Little
Eagle Wing Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 9972
Memphis, Tennessee 38190
April 20, 2026, 700 pages, Hardcover (8.75x11.25), Retail Price $89.95 [available on Amazon for $69.95]
ISBN: 978-0-940829-78-7
Reviewed by Brent Raynes
This encyclopedia of North America’s ancient Indian Mounds and Earthworks represents an extremely comprehensive and unique compilation. It details mound sites in 49 states with over 1,700 b/w photos, maps, and illustrations with 111 site reconstructions produced by archaeological illustrators, and over 1,200 mound site entries. In addition, it has an extensive index with more than 2300 entries. Often referred simply as the “Mound Builders” the archaeological community often focuses upon several overlapping mound cultures called the Archaic, Adena, Hopewell, and the Mississippian.
In this extraordinary volume these ancient sites are arranged alphabetically by state. This arrangement makes it convenient for people to even plan trips or vacations around visits to such locations. Greg and his wife Lora, beginning back in 1983, hit the road themselves traveling to these sites all over America, as well as museums and university libraries extensively researching these ancient cultures and sites, talking directly with archaeologists, museum staff, and taking thousands of photographs and videos of these locations.
I first met Greg in 1985, and it soon became clear to me that this was a man who had developed a profoundly deep fascination with these “Mound Builders,” their history, and their ancient sites and artifacts. He’d joke how in the beginning what he knew about the subject could have been written on the back of a postage stamp. Though clearly a humorous exaggeration, reading this volume without question illustrates the depths of considerable knowledge and insights that he has acquired through the years as he and Lora have made numerous field trips and conducted in-depth research that is the result of this comprehensive volume. After many private talks with him on the subject, plus several YouTube interviews I’ve done with him, as well listening to some of his lectures he’s given, he’s not only an encyclopedia author but a walking and talking encyclopedia as well. I’m seriously wondering if any archaeologist out there has ever traveled to as many ancient sites as he and Lora have. My wife Joan and I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of accompanying them both to a good many of these remarkable and magical sites in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Of course, those states visited with them and their extraordinary ancient mounds and earthworks that we accompanied the Little’s to represents just a very small fragment of coverage that they’ve extensively visited and studied since 1983.
Simply flipping casually through the hundreds of pages of photographs and illustrations of the sites and artifacts that were recovered and studied, and detailed information about what has been learned about these ancient people, what has been revealed about their lives, who they were and things about their spiritual beliefs, is an absolutely delightful and fun way to begin. However, it also offers directions on how to locate and visit these sites in person, no matter where you live. You could begin in your own state, or nearby states, or plan an extended vacation trip across country to sites that may jump out at you from the pages of this enlightening and information packed volume. There’s certainly a huge, compelling, and very thought-provoking amount of information to digest and unpack between its covers.
This book could be your first step on an unforgettable journey. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
