mound

thumb|230px|Grave Creek Mound, in [[Moundsville, West Virginia]] thumb|230px|Kościuszko Mound, [[Kraków, Poland]] thumb|230px|Oseberg Ship#Burial mound|Oseberg Mound, [[Tønsberg, Norway]]

A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically higher elevation on any surface. Artificial mounds have been created for a variety of reasons throughout history, including habitation (see Tell and Terp), ceremonial (platform mound), burial (tumulus), and commemorative purposes (e.g. Kościuszko Mound).