H. C. Shetrone was Director and Archaeologist of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. This book was intended as an introduction to the subject for a popular audience, and contains nearly 300 illustrations. Some chapter headings and topics include:

-Early Theories as to Origin and Identity.
-Distribution and Classification of the Mounds. Varieties and purposes: burial, effigy, defensive, ceremonial.
-Architecture and Engineering. Use of stone, timber structures, geometric earthworks.
-Agriculture, Commerce and Industry. Corn beans, squash, tobacco. Trade, barter, mining, quarrying, use of copper, pottery, textile arts.
-Mound-Builder as Artist
-Tobacco Pipes and Smoking Customs
-Ohio Area 1: Adena and Fort Ancient Cultures.
-Ohio Area 2: The Hopewell Culture
-Ohio Area 3: Fortifications and Effigy Mounds. Fort Ancient, the Great Serpent mound.
-The Great Lakes Area: New York, Northern Ohio, Michigan, Ontario.
-The Upper Mississippi Area 1: Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas. Grand River culture, Cahokia culture at Aztalan.
-The Upper Mississippi Area 2: Northern Illinois, Iowa and Marginal Districts.
-The Lower Mississippi Area
-The Tennessee-Cumberland Area
-The Pennsylvania Area