OHIO ARCHAEOLOGIST VOLUME 41 NO. 4 FALL 1991

Published by

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO The Archaeological Society of Ohio MEMBERSHIP AND DUES Annual dues to the Archaeological Society of Ohio are payable on the first of January as follows: Regular membership $15.00; husband and TERM wife (one copy of publication) $16.00; Life membership $300.00. A.S.O. OFFICERS EXPIRES Subscription to the Ohio Archaeologist, published quarterly, is included President James G. Hovan, 16979 South Meadow Circle, in the membership dues. The Archaeological Society of Ohio is an Strongsville, OH 44136, (216) 238-1799 incorporated non-profit organization. Vice President Larry L. Morris, 901 Evening Star Avenue SE, East Canton, OH 44730, (216) 488-1640 BACK ISSUES Exec. Sect. Barbara Motts, 3435 Sciotangy Drive, Columbus, OH 43221, (614) 898-4116 (work) (614) 459-0808 (home) Publications and back issues of the Ohio Archaeologist: Recording Sect. Nancy E. Morris, 901 Evening Star Avenue Ohio Flint Types, by Robert N. Converse $ 6.00 SE, East Canton, OH 44730, (216) 488-1640 Ohio Stone Tools, by Robert N. Converse $ 5.00 Treasurer Don F. Potter, 1391 Hootman Drive, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Slate Types, by Robert N. Converse $10.00 OH 43068, (614)861-0673 The Glacial Kame Indians, by Robert N. Converse $15.00 Editor Robert N. Converse, 199 Converse Dr., Plain City, OH Back issues—black and white—each $ 5.00 43064,(614)873-5471 Back issues—four full color plates—each $ 5.00 Immediate Past Pres. Donald A. Casto, 138 Ann Court, Lancaster, OH 43130, (614) 653-9477 Back issues of the Ohio Archaeologist printed prior to 1964 are generally out of print but copies are available from time to time. Write to business office for prices and availability.

BUSINESS MANAGER Paul Wildermuth, 5210 Coonpath Road NE, Pleasantville, OH ASO CHAPTERS 43148, (614) 536-7855 or (800) 736-7815. Aboriginal Explorers Club President: John M. Rose, R.D. #1, Box 12, Chester, WV TRUSTEES Beau Fleuve Chapter 1992 David W. Kuhn, 2103 Grandview Ave., Portsmouth, OH President: John C. McKendry, 5545 Trescott Terrace, Lakeview, NY 45662, (614) 354-1454 (work) Blue Jacket Chapter 1992 Stephen Kelley, 301 Columbia Ave., Box 1, Seaman, OH President: Jacque F. Stahler, 115 S. Mill Street, DeGraff, OH 45679, (513)386-2375 Cuyahoga Valley Chapter 1992 Walter J. Sperry, 6910 Range Line Rd., ML Vernon, OH President: Norman Park, 4495 W. High Street, Mantua, OH 43050,(614)393-2314 Flint Ridge Chapter 1994 Martha Otto, 2200 East Powell Road, Westerville, OH 43081, President: James E. Hahn, 770 S. 2nd Street, Heath, OH (614) 297-2641 (work), (614) 846-7640 (home) Fort Salem Chapter 1994 Don Gehlbach, 3435 Sciotangy Drive, Columbus, OH 43221, President: Clinton McClain, 1844 Sicily Road, ML Orab, OH (614)459-0808 Johnny Appleseed Chapter 1994 Stephen J. Parker, 1859 Frank Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130, President: Charles Fulk, 2122 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH (614)653-6642 King Beaver Chapter 1994 S. A. (Joe) Redick, 35 West Riverglen Drive, Worthington, OH President: Ronald Richman, Box 23, Clay Street, Edinburg, PA 43085,(614)885-0665 Lake County Chapter 1994 Michael W. Schoenfeld, 5683 Blacklick-Eastern Road NW, President: William M. King, 9735 Ridgeview Trail, Mentor, OH Pickerington, OH 43147, (614) 837-7088 Lower Ohio River Valley Basin Chapter REGIONAL COLLABORATORS President: Will Storey, 1820 Dexter, Portsmouth, OH David W. Kuhn, 2103 Grandview Ave., Portsmouth, OH 45662 Miamiville Archaeological Conservation Chapter Mark W. Long, Box 467, Wellston, OH President: Raymond E. Lovins, Box 86, Miamiville, OH Steven Kelley, Seaman, OH Mound City Chapter William Tiell, 13435 Lake Ave., Lakewood, OH President: Carmel "Bud" Tackett, 906 Charleston Pk., Chillicothe, OH James L. Murphy, University Libraries, 1858 Neil Avenue Mall, North Coast Chapter Columbus, OH 43210 President: Robert W. McGreevey, 24687 Tara-Lynn Dr., N. Olmstead, OH Gordon Hart, 760 N. Main St., Blufflon, Indiana 46714 Painted Post Chapter David J. Snyder, P.O. Box 388, Luckey, OH 43443 President: Joe Johnson, 108 Erwin Avenue, Follansbee, WV Dr. Phillip R. Shriver, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Sandusky Bay Chapter Brian Da Re, 58561 Sharon Blvd., Rayland, OH 43943 President: George B. DeMuth, 4303 Nash Rd., Wakeman, OH Jeff Carskadden, 960 Eastward Circle, Colony North, Sandusky Valley Chapter Zanesville, OH 43701 President: James E. Milum, 17306 CH 113, Harpster, OH

All articles, reviews, and comments regarding the Ohio Archaeologist Seneca Arrow Hunters President: Donald Weller, Jr., 3232 S. State Rt. 53, Tiffin, OH should be sent to the Editor. Memberships, requests for back issues, changes of address, and other inquiries should be sent to the Busi­ Six River Valley Chapter ness Manager. President: Walter J. Sperry, 6910 Range Line Road, Mount Vernon, OH Standing Stone Chapter PLEASE NOTIFY THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF ADDRESS President: Paul Wildermuth, 5210 Coonpath Road, Pleasantville, OH CHANGES IMMEDIATELY SINCE, BY POSTAL REGULATIONS, Sugarcreek Valley Chapter SOCIETY MAIL CANNOT BE FORWARDED. President: Nancy E. Morris, 901 Evening Star Ave. SE, East Canton, OH NEW BUSINESS OFFICE PHONE NUMBER 1-800-736-7815 TOLL FREE TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT'S PAGE Blood Residues Upon Tools from the East Wenatchee Attendance was well above expectation for the last regular Clovis Site, Douglas County, Washington meeting of the year, which was held in November 1991 at the by Richard Michael Gramly 4 Aladdin Temple in Columbus, Ohio. I want to thank everyone who A Large Three-Quarter Grooved Axe from participated with special thanks to Dr. Jerrel Anderson, and Dr. David Stothers, for their excellent presentations. Licking County, Ohio by Phillip ft Shrtver 10 It was especially gratifying seeing so many chapters repre­ Three Ohio Fluted Points by Dan and Judy Bunner 11 sented, as well as so many involved family members. In addition to the regular meeting, mini session, and guest speaker, Vice- A Map Of Ohio by Jim Hovan 12 President Larry Morris conducted a chapter presidents meeting to Hunt the Lowlands byDonBunge 13 brief them on upcoming events for 1992. TheTackett Birdstone by James G. Hovan 14 One of the subjects that I want to address in my message to you, is the upcoming elections for 1992. The nominating commit­ Two Stone Mortars by Dr. Russell J. Long 15 tee for election 1992 is headed by Bob Converse and Don Casto. Mound Preservation in Logan County by Jacque F. stahier. 16 Should you like to have your name, or the name of someone else The McKendry Site: A Multicomponent, placed on 1992 ballot, please contact either Bob or Don as soon Stratified Site in Chautauqua County, New York as possible. Obviously, the "passing of the torch" is extremely im­ by Eric G. Hansen & John McKendry 18 portant to our society. In addition, should you want to join one of our many committees, contact me. Now is the time to become A Rare Antler Harpoon by Jim Hovan 22 both active and involved. It's your society. The ballots are the ap­ ESCH Phase Hopewellian Middle Woodland petizer, but the election is the main course left to the responsibility Remains in Eastern Erie County, Ohio of the voter. by Jonathan E. Bowen 23 The time has come for me to point out what items are consid­ A Classic Adena Beaver-Tail Blade ered relative for display at our state meetings. Acceptable display items are genuine artifacts, books and related literature, display by Phillip R. Shriver 24 cases, baskets, beadwork, historic and prehistoric pottery, and ed­ Bar Atlatl Weights by Robert N. Converse 25 ucational materials related to the Society's stated and written pur­ pose. Items not appropriate are fraudulent artifacts of any kind, A Chlorite Pendant by Robert N. Converse 26 sweatshirts, mugs, jewelry, swords, knives, etc. No exceptions A Great Pipe from the Cincinnati Museum of please. Materials not considered appropriate will be removed. Natural History by Robert N. Converse 27 Also, no one is to use the microphone to make announcements Evidence for a Basic Hopewell Unit of Measure without prior consent of the Ohio Archaeological Society. Any such by William F. Romain 28 unauthorized announcements are not to be construed as an en­ dorsement by the Ohio Archaeological Society. A Square Knife from Clark County As you probably already know, we have a membership of sev­ by Hugh Schiller 38 eral thousand people. It is gratifying to realize that every day the Two Richland County Birdstones by Robert N. Converse .... 39 Society enjoys the encouragement of more and more people. We, as a group, represent a powerful, stable, and interested group of Tapered Stem Bifurcates by Robert N. Converse 40 people. We're interested in preservation information, and doing the Calendric Information Evident in the Adena Tablets right things relative to legislation, control, and what these mean to by William F. Romain 41 us as a group. It is easy to be pessimistic, in the face of pressures and obstacles of the future, but it is truly remarkable how much Heartbreakers by Chris Rummel 49 progress has been made in so little time. It takes stamina, persis­ Mounds vs. People: The Capitolium Case tence, determination, and faith to keep forging ahead toward our objectives, and we intend to keep on in the attainment of our by Thomas C. Casto 50 goals. An Archaeology Essay Contest 51 Information Needed 51 Best regards,

Back Cover: The Mound City Flying Eagle James G. Hovan byRobertN. Converse 51 President

Front Cover Fluted knife of agate (Field catalogue no. 1990.1) from Feature 1, East Wenatchee Clovis site, Douglas Co., Washington. Soil adheres to undersurface. A positive test for human blood was obtained from a sample removed from this surface just forward of the channel flake. Photo by Pete Bostrom.

3 BLOOD RESIDUES UPON TOOLS FROM THE EAST WENATCHEE CLOVIS SITE, DOUGLAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON by Richard Michael Gramly Great Lakes Artifact Repository 79 Perry Street Buffalo, New York 14203

Archaeological excavations at the East Grand Coulee and north of the town of increasing favor as a result of reported Wenatchee Clovis site, Douglas County, Ephrata, Grant County, or just 50 km due successful detections of blood residues on central Washington state (Fig. 1), in 1988 east of the prehistoric site (Fig. 1). In 1990 artifacts that had lain thousands of years in and 1990 by the author and others re­ a field party succeeded in discovering a chemically active forest soils (Loy 1983; vealed a shallow, oval pit containing at quarry pit and associated debris of stone Newman and Julig 1989; Hyland ef al. least 68 stone and bone artifacts in a re­ tool manufacture at this locality. 1990). The availability of commercial test­ markable state of preservation (Gramly Agate is normally translucent in thin ing has also fostered awareness of blood 1991). Although radiometric analysis of a pieces, and underneath small tab-flakes analysis among archaeologists. proboscidean limb bone artifact yielded a adhering to the broad faces and cutting A variety of physical and chemical disappointingly recent age of 5,215±90 edges of tools from East Wenatchee one techniques for blood residue analysis years before present (Beta-43663, ETH- may observe numerous reddish-brown have been advanced, each set having 7827), the composition of a volcanic ash deposits. At high magnification with a advantages and disadvantages. In the adhering to the undersurfaces of stone scanning electron microscope (SEM), the case of the East Wenatchee Clovis site, tools suggests that occupation of the deposits appear as layered, irregular poly­ the technique of cross-over electrophore­ Clovis site was roughly contemporary with gons (Fig. 2). Elemental composition, as sis (See Newman and Julig (1990) for a Glacier Peak, Washington, volcanic events revealed by energy-dispersive x-ray mi­ discussion) was applied together with a dated to 11,000-11,500 years ago croanalysis, indicates blood residues (Fig. battery of reactive anti-sera, as follows: (Mehringer and Foit 1990). Whatever their 3). Apparently blood was captured in the anti-deer, -bovine, -human, -sheep, absolute antiquity, the materials unearthed very small spaces beneath partially de­ -horse, -mouse, -rat, -cat, -dog, -guinea at East Wenatchee unquestionably belong tached flakes resulting from the initial pig, -turkey, -antelope, -bison, -elephant, to the Clovis archaeological culture, which manufacture or resharpening of tools. The and -elk (wapiti). The analysis was con­ many prehistorians accept as the oldest, large fluted Clovis knives (Fig. 4) in partic­ tracted and performed by Dr. Margaret E. widespread phase of human settlement in ular have many patches of blood residue, Newman, then with the Department of the New World south of the Wisconsin each 1-3 mm in diameter. In some cases Archaeology, University of Calgary, using continental glacier (Haynes 1980,1982a). fungi have invaded pockets of blood samples that were collected by the au­ The East Wenatchee artifacts, which residue leaving behind tell-tale cellular thor with a solution of reagent ammonia appear to have been deposited anciently structures (Fig. 5). diluted to 5% (Newman n.d.). In most in a covered pit, represent a tool-kit for This blood of ancient animals that is pre­ cases, it was possible to sample specific procuring and butchering animals. The served upon the tools used to butcher sites underneath single flakes on stone dominant forms are various bifacially them is primary evidence of the economy tools. Two artifacts without obvious flaked knives, 14 of which exhibit basal of the First Americans. The list of prey from patches of blood residue, however, were fluting and thinning for secure hafting to Clovis sites across North America includes completely immersed in ammonia solu­ handles, perhaps made of wood or some mammoth, mastodont, bison, caribou and tion held in an ultra-sonic cleaner; the ex­ other perishable substance. Also present antelope. Less convincing inclusions are act spots from which any residue was are a chopper, a graver with a single point horse, sloth, camel and a host of smaller derived are therefore unknown. Table 1 isolated by flaking, four sidescrapers, five game such as fox, beaver, rabbit, snake, presents the results of Newman's im­ sharp-edged prismatic blades and flake- turtle and fish. Bones of these latter ani­ munological analysis together with the blades, and three flaked stone axes or mals might in some cases be chance finds sampling locations and identities of the adzes. These latter implements might within stratigraphic units containing cul­ stone tools that were tested. have been used to dismember animal car­ tural materials and do not represent actual Negative results may indicate that blood casses as well as for working wood. It has food leavings of human beings. Of course, was never present, that it had been con­ been hypothesized by the author (Gramly animal blood on stone tools is not prima sumed by fungi or other organisms, or that n.d.) that this Clovis tool-kit, weighing facie evidence that specific animals were it was derived from a genus or family not about five kilograms, was cached for a eaten but only that they were utilized. Also, represented among the 15 anti-sera. No fall-winter hunt. For unknown reasons its it should be borne in mind that blood, both anti-sera for sloth, camel or mastodont — owner(s) failed to reclaim their still useful human and animal, has at various times all possible prey of North American Clovis implements. Eventually the pit was en­ and places been used as a cement and hunters — were applied to the 11 samples tered by scavengers who gnawed the might have been applied to toolhafts to an­ taken from the East Wenatchee artifacts. bone artifacts devouring one, defecated chor stone tools. Then, too, artifacts of rit­ All stone artifacts that were later tested the fragments and left the contents in dis­ ual importance might be anointed with for blood residues were excavated in 1990 array. Judging by the size and spacing of blood as a part of ceremonies. by the author and field assistants working toothmarks upon the bone, the cache rob­ The theoretical implications of identifying under direct supervision. They were lifted bers were wolverines. organic residues upon stone tools were set from original resting places using plastic, The East Wenatchee Clovis stone tools forth over a decade ago (Brieur 1976; disposable gloves. They were not touched are fashioned of colorful agates and chal­ Shafer and Holloway 1979) but practical in places where ammonia solution was cedony of high purity, which could have applications have been slow in coming pri­ later applied. Before sampling, excess soil been obtained from the Columbia Plateau marily due to a healthy skepticism on the was brushed away with plastic gloves and basalt series. A source of agate in large part of many archaeologists and serolo- then the tools were bathed in distilled wa­ masses and of similar appearance to the gists that blood could endure centuries of ter. This cleaning was necessary to make archaeological specimens lies west of burial. Analytical procedures have found the sampling sites more easily visible.

4 Speculations about the Significance animals with their reservoirs of fat. In the it; in turn, predators could infect herbi­ of the Blood Residues Columbia River region salmon and other vores by biting or through an insect inter­ The positive reaction for human blood fish may also have been important to the mediary. Tularemia is a particularly good on one of the fluted knives may be ex­ Clovis diet, at least seasonally. candidate for a disease that may have led plained by the fact that the sampling site An unavoidable outcome of human- to mass extinctions as nearly all wild ani­ lay just forward of where a handle may lagomorph interaction may have been the mals are potentially susceptible. have been attached. When butchering, the spread of disease. At least 80 diseases Another disease that is found in lago­ knife's user could easily have suffered a are transmissible naturally between ani­ morphs and might be transmitted to them cut — bleeding off the fingers down the mals and human beings (Anonymous from human beings is pseudotuberculosis. handle and onto the stone blade. This hy­ 1956), including severe maladies such as The clinical disease follows a different pothesis one day may be tested by sam­ rabies, anthrax, pasteurellosis, tuberculo­ course in human beings than it does in ani­ pling other fluted knives in the same place. sis, brucellosis and tularemia, to name a mals. While it is benign in otherwise The presence of bison blood on two ar­ few of the better-known afflictions. If the healthy people, in other species it is usu­ tifacts is significant in light of skeletal evi­ First Americans appeared with dogs, ally fatal (Mair 1968). The disease may be dence for hunting this animal at several which is highly likely given the great antiq­ contracted in many ways, and were in­ Clovis sites in the American West (Frison uity of dog in the Old World archaeological fected Clovis hunters trapping rabbits or and Todd 1986; Haynes 1976). Interesting record (Fridman 1989), then the spread of hares or keeping them as pets, the stage to note, bison was also a favored prey of disease from human beings to lago­ would have been set for a disastrous con­ Upper Palaeolithic hunters of the southern morphs — or the reverse may have been tagion among all New World mammals. Russian plain during the period 22,000- inevitable. Dogs and human beings share Brucellosis is yet another disease that is 10,000 years before present (Krotova n.d.) many diseases that are passed directly benign to debilitating in its human victim — the hypothesized period of entry of hu­ through feces and saliva. Intermediate and not normally fatal; while in some ani­ man beings into the New World. The hosts such as fleas, ticks and flying in­ mals it causes abortions or death. In "deer" blood on the graver or engraving sects might also infect human beings, Europe hares have been affected for many tool might have been derived from any dogs and lagomorphs. years by this bacterial disease (Witter and member of the large cervid family, namely, The virulence of a disease, and whether O'Meara1970). moose, caribou, stag-moose {Cervalces), it becomes a pandemic and a serious A host of afflictions could have been mule deer and white-tailed deer. threat to the survival of a species, de­ brought to the New World by dogs. Rabies Most intriguing is the presence of "rab­ pends upon the history of isolation of in­ (one of the oldest recorded infectious dis­ bit" blood. The residue may be derived fected populations and their development eases), distemper, and pseudorabies from any member of the Order Lago- of immune mechanisms. North American could have passed from domestic canids morpha, which incorporates pikas, hares and northern Asian animal populations ex­ to fox, coyote and wolf who, in turn, could and rabbits. Species of this group are on changed freely until the Middle Pleis­ have infected lagomorphs and other prey. record from Late Pleistocene and tocene but afterward the direction of In dogs rabies has a period of latency of Holocene localities in the New World species movement and propagation of 14-285 days (Anonymous 1956: 195). (Kurten and Anderson 1980). Lagomorphs disease became one-way towards North The disappearance of many New World are known from specific Clovis cultural de­ America (Sher 1982). Periodically, with the animals, among them the so-called "mega- posits, such as the Lange-Ferguson site in inundation of the Bering Land Bridge due fauna," at the end of the Pleistocene has South Dakota (Hannus 1989; Martin 1987) to rising sea level during glacial retreats, been a favorite topic of scientific dialogue and the Colby site in Wyoming (Frison and the New World was cut off from evolving for decades. Human predation and rapid Todd 1986). But like most reported dis­ strains of bacteria and viruses. These dis­ climatic change causing disruption in food coveries, the presence of lagomorphs at eases were destined time after time to en­ chains have been advanced most often as these two sites is based on just a few ter the New World and to challenge the the causes of this calamity, perhaps be­ bones of indeterminate species. Along immunity of animals there. Human beings cause, advocates are able to unearth tan­ with the remains of frog, snake and song­ and dogs at the end of the Wisconsin gible evidence of past events in archaeo­ birds, these bones might be chance inclu­ glaciation may have been the unwitting logical deposits, peat bogs and ocean sions within archaeological contexts. At vectors of disease invasion, which could bottoms. Evidence that contagious dis­ best, it is tenuous evidence of human use have wreaked havoc upon proboscideans, ease may have contributed to the disap­ of lagomorphs. More compelling cases of other ungulates and carnivores. pearance of animals is more elusive. human-lagomorph interaction are fur­ By interacting with lagomorphs, Clovis Explanatory models that incorporate this nished by the Lehner Clovis site, Arizona hunters may have hastened the extinction factor are seldom offered. A notable ex­ (Haynes 1982b) and the Udora early of many New World species. Hares and ception is Meyer's argument (1947) that Palaeo-lndian (Clovis) site, Ontario (Storck rabbits, which are prey for many animals, sylvatic plague, also known as wild rodent 1990). At Udora excavators uncovered a are proven vectors of diseases that infect plague or "black death," had entered North mass of calcined bone fragments, which a wide spectrum of species. For example, America from central Asia across the may mark a hearth or sweepings from it. tularemia ("rabbit-fever"), a plague-like af­ Bering Land Bridge long before its pre­ Among these bones were three speci­ fliction caused by a bacterium, is persis­ sumed arrival from Asia at west coast sea­ mens belonging to the genus Lepus; one tent among rabbits but does not cause a ports. The disappearance of the American of the three (fifth proximal metacarpal) is complete die-off due to the rapid breeding horse at the close of the Pleistocene has thought to represent either varying hare or of its host. Tularemia may be transmitted also intrigued some researchers who have Arctic hare (Spiess and Storck 1990). to human beings and dogs by drinking suggested that an ancient infestation of Lagomorph blood underneath a flake at water contaminated with feces, aerogeni- the tsetse fly carrying disease — and not the cutting edge of a Clovis knife is evi­ cally by breathing contaminated dust, by wanton hunting by human beings — was dence that the First Americans utilized eating infected meat, and by being bitten the immediate cause of the horse's demise hares, rabbits and/or pikas. These animals by fleas and deerflys. The disease is an­ (Anonymous 1956: 8). may have provided some meat and hides cient and may be enzooitic throughout the Support for the hypothesis that New for clothing, but surely the principal quarry world (Reilly 1970). Were a new strain of World pandemics were primarily responsi­ of hunters who roamed the periglacial tularemia passed onto New World lago­ ble for species extinction should be lands of central Washington 11,000- morphs by man or dog, then ultimately all sought among the remains of the animals 11,500 years ago must have been larger medium-to-large predators would contract themselves. Since ancient bacteria are re-

5 ported to have survived among the well- Wenatchee Clovis site, Douglas Co., Dakota. Pp. 314-32 in R. W. Graham, H. preserved stomach contents of an 11,500- Washington. Persimmon Press. Buffalo, A. Semken, Jr. and M. Graham (eds.) Late year-old mastodont discovered in 1989 in New York. Quaternary Mammalian Biogeography Licking County, Ohio (Lepper et al. 1991; n.d. Concluding excavations at the East and Environments of the Great Plains and Fisher ef al. 1991), it is credible that dis­ Wenatchee Clovis site, Douglas County, Prairies. Illinois State Museum. ease organisms might be traceable in the Washington. Paper delivered at the 56th Springfield. blood preserved underneath flakes on Annual Meeting of the Society for Mehringer, Peter J. and Franklin F Foit, Jr. equally ancient stone tools. The lagomorph American Archaeology, New Orleans, La. 1990 Volcanic ash dating of the Clovis cache at blood on one of the knives at the East April 1991. East Wenatchee, Washington. National Wenatchee Clovis site is proof that the Hannus, LA. Geographic Research 6(4): 495-503. First Americans had close contact with a 1989 Flaked mammoth bone from the Lange- Meyer, K. F. notorious carrier of disease. A remarkable Ferguson site. Pp. 395-412 in Robson 1947 Relation of diseases in lower animals to "blood-record" of man-animal interactions Bonnichsen and Marcella Sorg (eds.) human welfare: Prevention of plague in may be preserved on countless thousands Bone Modification. Center for the Study light of newer knowledge. Annals of the of artifacts that were deposited by immi­ of the First Americans. Orono, Maine. New York Academy of Sciences 48: 429- grant populations on their way from Alaska Haynes, C. Vance 67. to Tierra del Fuego. Archaeologists and 1976 Archaeological investigations at the Newman, Margaret E. molecular biologists must resurrect this Murray Springs site, Arizona, 1968. n.d. Immunological analysis of Clovis artifacts record and learn to read it. National Geographic Society Research from the East Wenatchee Clovis site, Reports (1968 Projects): 165-71. Washington. Unpublished report. Acknowledgements 1980 The Clovis culture. Canadian Journal of Newman, Margaret and P. Julig I wish to acknowledge the American Anthropology 1 (1): 115-21. 1989 The identification of protein residues on Philosophical Society for helping fund im­ 1982a Were Clovis progenitors in Beringia? Pp. lithic artifacts from a stratified Boreal for­ munological analyses and the Center for 383-98 in D. M. Hopkins, J. V. Matthews, est site. Canadian Journal of Archaeology Field Research (EARTHWATCH) for a grant C. E. Schweger and S. B. Young (eds.) 13: 119-32. leading to the excavation of the East Paleoecology of Beringia. Academic Reilly, R. Wenatchee Clovis site. Mr. Peter Bush of Press. New York. 1970 Tularemia. Pp. 175-99 in John W. Davis, the Dental School, State University of New 1982b Archaeological investigations at the Lars H. Karstad and Daniel O. Trainer York (Buffalo) was most generous with his Lehner site, Arizona, 1974-1975. National (eds.) Infectious Diseases of Wild Animals. expertise on the SEM. The Archaeological Geographic Society Research Reports Iowa State University Press. Ames. Society of Ohio provided funding towards 14:325-34. Shafer, H. H. and R. G. Holloway the radiocarbon date on bone collagen Hyland, D. C, J. M. Tersak, J. M. Adovasio and 1979 Organic residue analysis in determining from the East Wenatchee site. M. I. Siegel stone tool function. Pp. 385-99 in B. Ten reviewers gave valuable criticisms 1990 Identification of the species of origin of Hayden (ed.) Lithic Use-Wear Analysis. of two early drafts of this paper. I thank residual blood on lithic material. American Academic Press. New York. them for their forbearance. Antiquity 55(1): 104-11. Sher, A. V. Krotova, A. A. 1982 Pleistocene mammalian fauna of the References n.d. The reconstruction of socio-economic sys­ coastal plains of the East Siberian Sea Anonymous tems of Upper Paleolithic groups in the and the problem of the Bering Land 1956 Animal Diseases. U. S. Department of Azov-Black Sea Steppe region. Paper Bridge. Pp. 517-25 in A. I. Tolmachev (ed.) Agriculture. Washington, D. C. presented at the Soviet-American The Arctic Ocean and Its Coast in the Brieur, F. L. Symposium on Upper Paleolithic- Cenozoic Era. Amerind Publishing Co. 1976 New clues to stone tool function: Plant Paleoindian Adaptations. Denver Museum New Delhi, India. and animal residues. American Antiquity of Natural History. June 1991. Spiess, A. E. and P. L. Storck 41(4): 478-84. Kurten, Bjorn and Elaine Anderson 1990 New faunal identifications from the Udora Davis, John W., Lars H. Karstad and Daniel O. 1980 Pleistocene Mammals of North America. site: A Gainey-Clovis occupation site in Trainer (eds.) Columbia University Press. New York. southern Ontario. Current Research in the 1970 Infectious Diseases of Wild Animals. Iowa Lepper, B. T, T. A. Frolking, D. C. Fisher, G. Pleistocene 7: 127-8. State University Press. Ames. Goldstein, J. E. Sanger, D. A. Wymer, J. Storck, Peter L. Fisher, Daniel C, Bradley T. Lepper and Paul E. G Ogden III, and P. E. Hooge 1990 Excavations at the Early Paleoindian Hooge 1991 Intestinal contents of a Late Pleistocene Udora site, Georgina Township, York 1991 Taphonomic analysis of the Burning Tree mastodont from midcontinental North County. Annual Archaeological Report, mastodont. Current Research in the America. Quaternary Research 36:120- Ontario 1: 51-2. Ontario Heritage Pleistocene 8: 25. Foundation. Toronto. Fridman, Eva Jane N. Loy, Thomas H. Storck, Peter and John Tomenchuk 1989 Of Domestication, Dog-Husbands and 1983 Prehistoric blood residues: Detection on 1990 An Early Paleoindian cache of informal Dog-Feasts: Human-Canine Interaction in tool surfaces and identification of species tools at the Udora site, Ontario. Pp. 45-93 Native North America. M. A. (Extension of origin. Science 220(4603): 1269-71. in K. Tankersley (ed.) Research in Studies), Harvard University. Cambridge, Mair, N. S. Economic Anthropology (Supplement 5). Massachusetts. 1968 Pseudotuberculosis in free-living wild ani­ JAI Press. Frison, George C. and Lawrence C. Todd mals. Pp. 107-17 in A. McDiarmid (ed.) Witter, J. F. Franklin and David C. O'Meara 1986 The Colby Mammoth Site. University of Diseases in Free-Living Wild Animals. 1970 Brucellosis. Pp. 249-55 in John W. Davis, New Mexico Press. Albuquerque. Symp. Zoological Society of London 24. Lars H. Karstad and Daniel O. Trainer Gramly, Richard Michael Martin, James E. (eds.) Infectious Diseases of Wild Animals. 1991 Narrative for color slide set of the 1990 1987 Paleoenvironment of the Lange/ Ferguson Iowa State University Press. Ames. excavations and artifacts of the East Clovis kill site in the Badlands of South

6 Artifact (Field Cat. No.) Sampling site Results Fluted knife (1990.1) Encrustation on edge at tip Negative Fluted knife (1990.1) Encrustation on basal ear Negative Fluted knife (1990.1) 4 cm2 area of one face, immediately Human forward of channel flake Graver (1990.23) Whole specimen Bison, bovine, deer Sidescraper (1990.4) Encrustation adhering to cortex Negative Fluted knife (1990.30) Underneath flake at center of face Bison, bovine Fluted point preform Underneath flake at cutting edge Rabbit used as knife (1990.10) near tip Fluted point preform Underneath flake at cutting edge Negative used as knife (1990.10) near base Ovate knife (1990.3) Underneath two flakes near middle Negative of cutting edge Ovate knife (1990.3) Underneath flake near middle of Negative cutting edge Primatic blade (1990.17) Whole specimen Negative

Table 1. (Gramly) Clovis stone artifacts and the results of blood residue analysis, East Wenatchee site, Washington, 1991.

Fig. 1 (Gramly) Map of Washington showing locations of the Clovis site (East Wenatchee) and a presumed source of lithic raw material from which many of the Clovis tools discovered at East Wenatchee were made.

7 Fig. 2 (Gramly) Blood residue adhering to the undersurface of a small flake that was detached from a fluted knife (Field catalogue no. 1990.30), East Wenatchee Clovis site. The residue, which is shown at 700X and 2800X, is rich in iron and potassium as revealed by energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis.

Ii nnn ?> +• •= . cawnT. v. " -- SILICON

ALUMINUM

LIRON

4.0 6.0 8 . 0 10.0 EH ERGY ( KEV )

Fig. 3 (Gramly) Graph of relative element abundance of suspected blood residue on the undersurface of a small flake that was detached from a fluted knife (Field catalogue no. 1990.30), East Wenatchee Clovis site. Energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis was performed by P. Bush, Dental School, State University of New York at Buffalo. Note peaks for iron and potassium.

8 Fig. 5 (Gramly) Fungal masses adhering to the undersurface of a small flake that was detached from a fluted point preform (Field catalogue no. 1990.10). The preform had been used as a knife. Note the hypha connecting cell clusters (400X/2000X).

Fig. 4 (Gramly) Fluted knife (Field catalogue no. 1900.1) from the East Wenatchee Clovis site showing where sample was removed for blood residue analysis (box). The sample tested positively for human blood. The length of the knife is 232.5 mm; it is one of the largest implements of its type known to science.

9 A LARGE THREE-QUARTER GROOVED AXE FROM LICKING COUNTY, OHIO by Phillip R. Shriver Miami University

Was it used as a ceremonial piece, or was it used as a chopping tool? Opinions of those who have seen one of the largest of the stone axes I have collected over the years are almost evenly divided in response to that question. Because of its symmetry, balance, and workmanship, and because of its quite remarkable con­ dition as well as considerable size, an ar­ gument can be made that it was a cere­ monial object and not a weapon or tool. On the other hand, the number of nicks, pits, and chips on both its poll and its blade edge suggests a more utilitarian Fig. 1 (Shriver) Three-quarter grooved function. (See Figures 1 and 2.) axe from Licking County, Ohio. Small Found near Newark in Licking County, fractures are evident at the blade edge. Ohio, this three-quarter grooved axe has Photograph by the Miami University been part of my collection since 1955. Audio Visual Service. Shaped from a fine-grained, very compact igneous stone, it has a basalt-like texture. Probably a glacial erratic, it is dull gray in color with some darker banding evident on its well-polished blade faces. Commenting on three-quarter axes in his Ohio Stone Tools, Robert N. Converse has observed that they are probably Archaic in cultural horizon since they are usually found on pre-pottery sites, that they are generally both more plentiful and more finely made than fully grooved specimens, but like those of full groove they can range in size from miniatures of a few ounces to some weighing several pounds. (Converse, 1973: 28.) The Licking County axe weighs 3 pounds, 12 ounces. Almost 10 inches long, it is 3 1/2 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches thick at mid-section. Converse has conjectured that the flat or ungrooved side of a three-quarter grooved axe may have accommodated a wedge for tightening the hafting thongs. The absence of curva­ ture on the ungrooved side of the axe il­ lustrated here suggests this possibility.

Acknowledgements My indebtedness is expressed to Dr. Fig. 2 (Shriver) Reverse side of the Karl E. Limper, Miami geologist and same axe. friend, for his identification of the type of stone from which this axe has been fash­ ioned, and to the Miami Audio Visual Service for photographic reproductions used in this article.

Reference Converse, Robert N. 1973 Ohio Stone Tools. The Archaeological Society of Ohio.

10 THREE OHIO FLUTED POINTS by Dan and Judy Bunner 8500 McKitrick Rd. Plain City, Ohio

Shown in Fig. 1 are three fluted points flint, a common material for Ohio fluted have come from unknown quarries or in our collection. Center example is from points. The other two points are of heav­ from locations many miles distant from Franklin County, Ohio. Right is from ily patinated flint from an unrecognized where they were found. Center example Greene Co. and left is from Union source. As with many Paleo points, ma­ is 3 1/2 inches long. County. Left example is of Upper Mercer terials from which they were made may

Fig. 1 (Bunner) Three Ohio fluted points - obverse and reverse.

11 A MAP OF OHIO by Jim Hovan 16979 South Meadow Circle Strongsville, Ohio

For the benefit of our readers and members we publish this map of Ohio showing our 88 counties.

40 miles

12 HUNT THE LOWLANDS by Don Bunge 7760 Westwood Road Findlay, Ohio 45840

Archaeological literature from Hancock living areas for all of the ancient cultures. County, Ohio, seems glaringly absent. I first became interested in hunting the Artifacts from Hancock County are occa­ lowlands when I found artifacts while sionally written up in journals and some crossing from one elevated plain to an­ appear at auctions from time to time, but other. Soon I found myself hunting the low not much is written about surface col­ areas as my first preference. On a cold, lecting. My advice to the surface collec­ overcast morning, I was walking across a tor is to hunt the lowlands or flood plains. flood plain to a very productive site along Many collectors hunt the site areas and the Blanchard River, which I considered sand ridges - areas which provide good my favorite hunting locale and just after hunting and where one would expect to entering the field, I noticed a small piece find the best artifacts. Though not nearly of black flint ahead. I attempted to flip the number as were found fifty or one over the flint as I passed, but it did not hundred years ago, many fine pieces can move. On my second and more careful at­ still be found here. The lowlands or flood tempt at extraction I was the proud owner Fig. 2 (Bunge) 5" White Flint Ridge plains adjacent to these sand ridges and of a three-inch, diagonal corner notched- chalcedony knife. site areas seem to hold many fine arti­ projectile point. The Upper Mercer flint ar­ facts as well. tifact is 2 1/8 inches wide and one-quarter Surely the early Indians used their inch thick, beveled, with a chipped notch weapons and implements in areas other in the base. (Fig. 1). I put the projectile than their campsites or homesites. point in my pocket and started again to­ Possibly 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, depen­ ward my favorite site. Having walked an­ dent upon the meanderings of the water­ other ten paces, I noticed something white ways at that time, Hancock County's low­ slightly ahead and to the right. This turned lands could have been campsites or travel out to be a five-inch long white flint ridge routes. The areas where the early inhabi­ chalcedony knife, very well chipped. (Fig. tants made kills, and the regular hunting 2). I had now picked up two of the best regions, certainly can produce artifacts yet pieces in my collection in five or six min­ today. A bannerstone, pestle or projectile utes. Before reaching my favorite site point lost thousands of years ago in a across that lowland field, I found more un­ woodland area, hunting area, or ancient broken points and a broken roller pestle. battlefield may show up today when a farmer plows his low lying fields. REFERENCE Hancock County will produce artifacts Converse, Robert N. that date from the Paleo period up to and 1973 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological including the historical period, a range of Society of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio. 1,000 to 12,000 years, with the Archaic period being predominantly represented. This part of northwestern Ohio was known as the "Black Swamp" in the early 1800's. The early inhabitants probably entered the area with the retreat of the Wisconsin Fig. 3 (Bunge) 2 3/4" Meadowoodpoint, Black glacier. The shores of Lake Erie presum­ Upper Mercer Flint. ably extended through the northern por­ tion of the county, relinquishing the rest of the county to swampland, with high sand ridges and wooded high tracts scattered amongst water. It may be that ancient man travelled to these higher areas on makeshift crafts made with their hand tools. These tools, as well as many of their artifacts, could have been lost in the water or swampland. The reasons for the presence of artifacts in lowland areas is speculative, but none the less they can be found. The Blanchard River was probably the main traffic byway for the county in an­ cient times. The river is fed by many small tributaries as it flows north to the Maumee River. The areas bordering the Blanchard River, as well as its small feeder streams, Fig. 1 (Bunge) 3 in. diagonal corner notched Fig. 4 (Bunge) 2" bifurcate point. Gray and show evidence of many early camps and projectile point. pink Upper Mercer flint.

13 THE TACKETT BIRDSTONE by James G. Hovan 16979 South Meadow Circle Strongsville, Ohio 44136

This unusually, large, colorful, bust bird- with a base measuring 2 1/2" in diameter, stone was collected prior to 1969 in and the button eyes are 3/4" in diameter. Richland County, Ohio. The Tackett Birdstone has never before The birdstone is manufactured of highly been published, and is certainly to be con­ polished gneiss, and stands 3 1/2" high, sidered to be a significant Ohio discovery.

14 TWO STONE MORTARS by Dr. Russell J. Long 675 Alma Street Beaumont, TX 77705

In the spring of 1932 the late Dr. R. A. (archaic). I call this mortar the "Gossip I know of one other mortar in the Ada Dobbins asked me to go with him to look Stone." I can see women seated around area. That one was on the Orange Powell at a hillside bog in Logan County near this stone cracking walnuts and hickory farm southeast of Ada. It was large enough DeGraff. We talked to the farmer who nuts and throwing the kernels into the two that he fed his dog from it. He had a con­ owned the land and then went to the bog. I depressions. I imagine they carried on crete sidewalk built from his house to his have a bad habit of scanning the ground considerable conversation as they worked. barn and the stone was not seen after that. whenever I walk, even if I'm just crossing a The smaller mortar is made of pink I imagine it ended up as ballast in the vacant lot. Coming back through a woods quartzite from the glacial drift. It was found side walk. near the bog I saw a large stone mortar, by my grandfather, Michael Long, on his right side up, at the base of a tree. It was farm three miles west of Ada on the References made of a gneiss boulder from the glacial Jackson township side of Hardin- Maxwell, Moreau S. drift and had a double depression with 10 Allen/County line in Allen County. The story 1952 The Archaeology of the Lower Ohio Valley small pits scattered around the edge. I was that a Stone pestle was with it, but it in: Archaeology of Eastern United States, later found that it weighed an even 60 disappeared before my time. The stone James B. Griffin, editor, 1952. pounds. Dr. Dobbins told me he would has a shallow depression on each face. Fig. 95. haul it to Ada, but I had to get it to the car. There is a broad brown ring around the I got it up on my hip, dirty side out. I told middle of this mortar. My grandmother the farmer I was stealing one of his rocks. used it for a weight on the big plate that Maxwell (1952) illustrated the same artifact was placed over the sauerkraut in a 10- from the Faulkner Focus in southern Illinois gallon crock.

Fig. 1 (Long) Two stone mortars. Fig. A, Near DeGraff, Logan County. Fig. B, west of Ada, Allen County. Photographs by Dr. Philip Malnassy.

15 MOUND PRESERVATION IN LOGAN COUNTY by Jacque F. Stahler 115 South Mill St. DeGraff, Ohio

Located in Logan County, on the A park ranger reported that a group of of land near the northern end. The road shores of Indian Lake, are five prehistoric Boy Scouts once wanted to clear the weaves between the mounds and the cot­ mounds. Four are on Lake Ridge Island mound of brush to enhance visibility during tages have been built so as not to disturb and designated as Lake Ridge Island the summer. The owner was evidently op­ them. Mound I, the southern-most, is lo­ Mounds. The fifth mound is on the shore posed and the only clearing done to date cated 5.0 feet west of State Route 368 in a of Dunn's Pond and named Dunn's Pond is a path across the mound used by snow­ well kept yard between the highway and Mound. This mound is the largest of the mobiles in the winter and bicycles in the the lake. It is 3.0 feet high and 40 feet in di­ five along the lake. summer. The Dunn's Pond Mound was ameter with a slight depression in the top, In February of 1989 the Blue Jacket probably constructed by the prehistoric probably indicating some previous excava­ Chapter of A.S.O. was contacted by Dave Hopewell people and is in excellent condi­ tion which did little to disturb the contents. Hegelson, Park Manager for Indian Lake, tion except for the slight excavation scar. Mound II is 300 feet north of Mound I and requesting assistance in preserving Dunn's The Hopewell built other mounds in the is only 3.0 feet east of the road, again in a Pond Mound. The concern for the mound's Indian Lake area but Dunn's Pond Mound yard. This mound is 2.5 feet high and 30 appearance resulted from the increased is by far the largest. It is probably not asso­ feet in diameter with a small concrete base use of A.T.V.'s and trail bikes traveling over ciated with a village since no large concen­ on its summit used to mount a "cigar store the mound. It was decided that some type trations of artifacts are reported in the im­ Indian" during the summer months of resi­ of fence was needed to eliminate damage mediate area. Perhaps the mound covers dency. Mound III is another 150 feet north to the original contour of the mound. the remains of a large charnel house used and off the west side of 368 about 4.0 feet. After checking the legalities of doing this in the Hopewell ceremonial practice known It is 2.0 feet high and 27 feet in diameter construction and getting permission from as the "Cult of the Dead". If such were the located in the side yard of a brick home. all involved parties we were ready to pro­ case one might expect to find the post The northern-most mound is 150 feet ceed with the actual work. The fence se­ hole pattern of a nearly square, round-cor­ north of Mound III and about 40 feet west lected was a wood split rail which is com­ nered house and possibly crematory of the highway. It is the smallest, 1.8 feet plementary to the rustic surroundings. basins or cremated burials. high and 25 feet in diameter, and is On June 2,1991, eleven members of the The skeleton discovered in the exca­ crossed by a fence in a side yard. Blue Jacket Chapter met at the site and vated portion of the mound could have All of the mounds are in excellent condi­ erected the fence around Dunn's Pond been an intrusive burial. Late Woodland tion having once been part of the Wolf Mound. The members who worked on this people, who had ceased to construct Estate and known as Wolf Mounds I - IV. project were, Phil Alloway, Phil Brandt, burial mounds, often returned to sacred The property has been subdivided but Frank Smith, John Stemble, Brian Hopewell and Adena mounds to bury their each of the owners has been careful to Samples, Joel Minter, Perry Hodies, Jr., dead. Since one intrusive burial has been preserve the mounds which are here Brett Elliott, Greg Johns, Perry Hodies, III found, there are probably others, therefore, grouped as Lake Ridge Island Mounds. and Jacque Stahler. Special thanks to Phil the Dunn's Pond Mound could represent a The narrow neck of land containing the Alloway for coordinating this project, and continuum of burial practices in the mounds is not more than 5.0 acres in ex­ to Lakeview Hardware for making the Woodland time period. tent. Any associated village has probably fence available to the Chapter at their cost. The large size and excellent preserva­ been destroyed by flooding, highway Following are the descriptions of Lake tion of the Dunn's Pond Mound, plus the construction, or house building. Ridge Island Mounds and Dunn's Pond significance of information on two The Lake Ridge Island group of low, Mound as they appear on the nomination Woodland cultures establish it as a candi­ sub-conical mounds were probably con­ forms to the National Register of Historic date for inclusion on the National Register structed by the prehistoric Hopewell Places, prepared by Bert C. Drennen, III, of Historic Places. Indians who inhabited Ohio between 300 Archaeologist-Preservationist with the B.C. and A.D. 600. The Hopewell are best Ohio Historical Society. LAKE RIDGE ISLAND MOUNDS known for their large burial mounds and The streams in northwestern Logan extensive ceremonial earthworks. How­ DUNN'S POND MOUND County form the head waters of the Great ever, areas peripheral to the cultural cen­ Dunn's Pond is an inlet on the southeast Miami River, a drainage system important ters in south-central Ohio often consist of edge of Indian Lake in Logan County, to Ohio's prehistoric people as well as to groups of low mounds just like the Lake Ohio. The pond is accessible from either its modern inhabitants. When these Ridge Island group. Whether these State Route 366 or 368 and its shores are streams were dammed to form Lewistown mounds represent isolated groups of occupied by both summer and year-round Reservoir, now known as Indian Lake, Hopewell that were contemporaneous with dwellings. On the north edge of the pond, there were still many mounds and glacial the main bodies living in the larger river in a wooded area, is located Dunn's Pond kames in the area. The development of valleys, or whether they represent frac­ Mound. The subconical, earthen mound is recreational and housing facilities around tional groups during or after the decline of 7 feet in height and 70 feet in diameter. the lake destroyed some of the mounds Hopewell importance is yet to be proven Covering the structure are large trees and but others survived as landmarks in indi­ archaeologically. brush and there is an excavation scar on vidual yards. The higher ridges within the The Lake Ridge Islands Mounds will un­ the west-southwest side. The scar, result­ flood pool of the lake became islands, doubtedly play a role in answering other ing from an early 1940's excavation, is some taking their place names from their questions presented by the Hopewell peo­ small compared to the large size of the Indian past — Shawnee Island, Seminole ple, not only in Ohio, but in surrounding mound. Digging was halted when work­ Island, Tecumseh Island, to name a few. states as well. Where did the Hopewell men encountered a burial and has not One island, Lake Ridge Island, contains originate? What was responsible for their been resumed since. four small mounds along the narrow neck decline? Who influenced these people and

16 in turn who did they influence? Preserv­ recreational area is also significant. If visi­ their own property. Individuals working ation of such sites is important until the tors to state and local parks can be in­ with state or local historical societies are time when investigative or interpretive pro­ formed of the importance of preserving responsible for saving many archaeological grams can be initiated. such sites, they may be influenced to pre­ sites and National Register properties are The location of the mounds within a serve areas of prehistoric significance on helping them in their task.

Fig. 1 (Stahler) Damage done by off-road recreational vehicles. Fig. 2 (Stahler) Portion of completed fence.

Fig. 3 (Stahler) Blue Jacket Chapter members. Fig. 4 (Stahler) Chapter member Phil Brandt digging post hole, other members in background.

17 THE McKENDRY SITE: A MULTICOMPONENT, STRATIFIED SITE IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NEW YORK by Eric G. Hansen & John McKendry 79 Perry St. Niagara, NY 14203

Background past. This location would have been ideal Feature density is highest at the north The McKendry Site, previously known for providing easy access to the re­ end of the excavation block, where there as the Newton Hill Site, Newton Farm Site sources of both upland and floodplain are a number of intersecting pits and and the Hanover Site, is located in the environments. It also probably provided a hearths. Plate 1 illustrates one such zone Town of Hanover in northwestern Chaut­ convenient route for travel to and from of intersecting features in square N27E2. It auqua County, New York (Figure 1). The the Niagara Frontier and the midwest, can be seen in the photograph that site has been known to local collectors for along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Feature 21, the roughly oval stain near the some time, and a few objects from the site These two factors were probably the top center of the square, was cut into two are in the collections of the New York most important determinants in the for­ earlier pits located in the top left and top State Museum. Largely as a result of local mation of the site. right corners of the square, respectively. collector interest, the site came to the at­ Figure 2 shows the general topographic Late Woodland sherds were recovered tention of the Junior author, who pur­ setting of the McKendry Site. Test pitting from the fill of Feature 21, which accords chased the property containing the site and surface inspection conducted in 1989 well with its stratigraphic position of being and initiated field investigations in 1989. showed that cultural material is distributed the most recent of the three features. The 1989 and 1990 field seasons were widely, both along the crest of the ridge However, charcoal taken from Feature 21 carried out by a dedicated band of avoca- and its slopes down to the floodplain. The was radiocarbon dated to 3080 +/- 80 tional volunteers under the overall supervi­ highest density of material, however, was RCYBP (Beta-47370), which is much too sion of the junior author. These field sea­ observed on the crest of the ridge, and early for a Late Woodland age for the fea­ sons established that the site was this area was chosen for further investiga­ ture. Clearly, the sample must have been multicomponent, archaeologically com­ tion. At the start of the 1989 season, a 25 contaminated with charcoal from either or plex and, therefore, likely to be of some foot wide strip along the crest of the ridge both of the earlier two features. If this is regional importance. For these reasons, was plowed and disked. Surface collec­ the case, it suggests that the earlier two the senior author was brought in to direct tion of this strip showed that there were features may be significantly older than the excavations at the site early in the two distinct artifact concentrations on top the inferred age for Feature 21 of post 1991 field season. of the ridge, one at either end of the 1100 A.D. Excavation of Features 20 and The first, and most critical, task was to McKendry parcel. Excavations subse­ 34 was not completed when the field sea­ reconstruct the site based on excavation quently began in the western of the two son closed, so it won't be until next sea­ records kept throughout the first two concentrations. son that this can be resolved. years of the dig. The second important It is important to note that casual survey Also visible in Plate 1 is part of Feature task, still ongoing, is the preparation of a along the ridge both east and west of the 14, located in the lower left corner of the detailed site report that will document the McKendry parcel revealed a nearly contin­ square, and part of Feature 22, the trian­ work done to date and present the pre­ uous distribution of artifacts which, in the gular stain in the lower center and right liminary results of the research into pre­ first place, attests to the importance of corner of the square, both of which extend historic subsistence and settlement pat­ this topographic feature as a locus of pre­ into adjacent squares. Several sherds of terns that are now being undertaken. As historic activity and, secondly, suggests Vinette 1 pottery were recovered from we write, the 1991 field season has just that the McKendry locality provides just a Feature 14, and a radiocarbon date of ended, affording us this opportunity to small picture of the overall archaeological 2380 +/- 80 RCYBP (Beta-47369) ob­ take stock of the investigation and to record of the area. tained on charcoal from one of the inner plan for future work on the site. The pur­ It can be seen in Figure 2 that the exca­ layers of the feature firmly places the con­ pose of this paper is to present a brief vation block is located on the crest of the struction of the pit to the Early Woodland description and summary of our work. ridge, approximately 13 feet above the Meadowood Phase. Although this date is floodplain. The block consists of 90 con­ slightly older than the date obtained from Site Setting tiguous square meters, that were exca­ Feature 3, the error terms overlap consid­ The McKendry site is located on the vated primarily in two-meter squares. erably, suggesting that the two features Lake Whittlesey strand, an elevated During excavation, all soil was sifted may be approximately contemporary. sandy ridge that formed approximately through quarter-inch mesh screens, and Feature 22 is historic in origin, probably 13,000 years BR during the early stages all cultural material, including lithic deb- a grave cut from a small, 19th century of the formation of Lake Erie. This age itage, caught in the screen was collected. family cemetery that was located on the predates the earliest recorded occupa­ Cultural features were, in most cases, site. The cemetery belonged to the tion of the site by some 8000 years, drawn and/or photographed, and exca­ Newton Family, one of the pioneer settlers which suggests that the site was well in­ vated as separate contexts. in the Town of Hanover. One grave and a land of Lake Erie over the span of prehis­ stone block monument foundation toric habitation. The Lake Whittlesey The Site (Features 1 and 2) were excavated in the strand forms the boundary between two A detailed view of the site plan that is 1989 season, and one other possible main physiographic zones, the Appal­ exposed in the excavation block is grave cut (Feature 17) was tentatively achian uplands to the south and the shown in Figure 3. A total of 35 cultural identified this season. Because of the broad floodplain of Cattaraugus Creek to features have been recovered. To date, strong local interest in the pioneer settle­ the north. Today, the creek flows approxi­ the results of C14 age determinations for ment of the area, current investigation of mately a quarter mile north of the site, al­ 5 of the features have been returned. the historic occupation of the site is being though it's possible that it meandered These dates are summarized in Table 1 pursued through the study of existing closer to the site at some point in the and are discussed below. documents and maps, in an attempt to

18 trace the fortunes of the Newton Family The major occupation, judging by the This also presents a difficult problem for who owned the property in the early to frequency of projectile point types and attempting to reconstruct the occupa­ mid 1800s, some of whom were buried on other diagnostic artifacts, belongs to the tional history of the site because it is gen­ the site. Unfortunately, no documentation Early Woodland, Meadowood Phase. erally not possible to identify groups of has come to light that describes the layout This phase is radiocarbon dated to be­ contemporaneous features based on arti­ of the cemetery or records the number of tween, roughly, 900-400 B.C., although fact content. Charcoal samples were not burials that were made here. Therefore it is the two C14 dates obtained place the routinely collected from features exca­ inevitable that excavation will reveal addi­ Meadowood Phase occupation of the vated in the first two seasons of the site, tional graves in the future. This season our site at the most recent end of this range. so there is no way at present to make firm practice has been that, once a feature has Plate 3 illustrates three of the cultural or chronological associations. been positively identified as a grave cut, it Meadowood points, a cache blade and Functional assessment is also hampered will be left alone, with excavation shifting three drills that were made on re-worked by the lack of artifacts in the features fills. to other areas. Meadowood points. All but a few of the In light of the complexity shown by the Detailed stratigraphic excavations that 95 sherds in the collection are Vinette 1, horizontal and vertical stratification of fea­ were undertaken during the 1991 field thick and corded on both the interior and tures, charcoal samples are now being season also revealed that some of the exterior surfaces (Plate 4). Similarly, many taken for radiocarbon age analysis and features are vertically superimposed. The of the biface fragments in the collection soil samples from selected features are finding of stratified deposits at the site are recognizably fragments of thin, finely being taken for flotation recovery of micro­ adds an important dimension to our un­ flaked Meadowood cache blades. scopic organic remains on a regular basis. derstanding of the site. Three cases of Perhaps the most impressive artifact in These data will provide an independent vertically stratified features were identi­ the collection is a ceramic, cigar-shaped, estimate of the age of many of the fea­ fied this year. In square N27E4 Feature blocked end tube pipe that was recov­ tures present on the site, as well as allow­ 24 came to light at a depth of 55 cm be­ ered from the bottom of a pit (Feature 3) ing the functional associations of the dif­ low the surface after Feature 14 was re­ that was radiocarbon dated to 2260 +/- ferent occupations to be compared. moved. This feature is a bowl-shaped pit 70 RCYBP (Beta-46638) (Plate 5). Cigar- The most interesting aspect of these that contained several distinct layers of shaped pipes are a recognized Early features are their structural similarity. We charcoal rich soil alternating between lay­ Woodland trait, but blocked end pipes have already noted how Features 18, 24, ers of clean fill. A radiocarbon date of are more common in the little known 25 and 35 each contain alternating layers 4000 +/- 70 RCYBP (Beta-47371) places Middlesex Phase. The Middlesex Phase of charcoal rich soil and clean fill. Features the construction of the pit in the Late is known almost exclusively from mortu­ 14, 15, 20, 23, 28 and 32 also have the Archaic period. Thus, in this square there ary sites where grave offerings often same internal structure. This is true de­ is a Meadowood Phase feature dated at evince a mix of Meadowood Phase and spite the variation in size and shape 2380 years B.P that overlies a Late Adena-style artifacts. The C14 date of among these features, and despite the Archaic feature constructed over a thou­ 2260 years B.P. obtained from charcoal variation in age as revealed by the radio­ sand years earlier. taken from Feature 3 places the con­ carbon analysis and/or the presence of di­ struction of the pit at the most recent end Another set of stratified features was agnostic artifacts in the feature fills. This of the Meadowood time range, and may recognized in the adjoining squares stratigraphic layering suggests that these be more in line with a Middlesex Phase N27E6 and N25E6. Feature 18 is a large, pits were subject to multiple use episodes. assignment. circular basin shaped pit that was cut in That layers of clean fill alternate with lay­ from near the surface. The fill of the pit The collection also contains a Lamoka ers of charcoal rich soil in many of these contained several distinct layers of char­ point and a bevelled adze, diagnostic of features indicate that they had been left coal rich soil separating zones of clean the Late Archaic, Lamoka Phase, several open after each use episode and were fill. A single netsinker was the only formal Madison points, diagnostic of the Late subject to filling through erosion or wind­ tool recovered from the fill. This feature Woodland Period, as well as a number of blown sands. If this interpretation is cor­ was radiocarbon dated to 4250 +/- 80 untyped sidenotched and stemmed vari­ rect, it would suggest that occupation of RCYBP (Beta-47638), which places its eties (Plate 6) that are probably Late the site was recurrent, possibly on a sea­ construction even earlier in the Late Archaic in origin. The radiocarbon dates sonal basis, and that this was true for both Archaic than Feature 24. After Feature 18 from Features 18 and 24 would be consis­ the Late Archaic and Early Woodland pe­ was excavated, two circular bowl-shaped tent with a Lamoka Phase occupation, but riod components. pits, each also exhibiting the same type no diagnostic artifacts were recovered of zonation, were revealed at a depth of from either feature to make a more specific Summary 60 cm below surface. Plate 2 illustrates identification of their cultural affiliation. We noted above, in the introduction, the south profile of Feature 25. The pho­ By far, most of the artifacts are located that one of our tasks this winter is to take tograph clearly shows the structure ap­ in the upper 30 centimeters of the soil pro­ stock of the results of the first three sea­ parent in the fill of the feature. Aside from file. This includes the plow zone and a thin sons of excavation in order to assess the a small number of chert flakes and some (2-5 cm) layer of undisturbed Level 1 be­ research potential of the site and to plan fire-cracked rock, no other artifacts were neath the plow zone. Even taking into for future work. Among the major prob­ recovered from Feature 25. However, it is consideration the mixing caused by the lems that still need to be addressed are clear that it is at least as old as Feature plow, it seems clear that materials were 1) determining the distribution of cultural 18, possibly a great deal older. simply discarded on the surface of the oc­ material across the entire McKendry par­ The artifact collection recovered to date cupation and allowed to accumulate. With cel, so that the data recovered from the is summarized in Table 1, and a selected a few exceptions, most notably the pipe excavation block can be placed within its sample of the artifacts are illustrated in that was recovered from the bottom of broader site context; 2) developing stan­ Plates 3-7. Projectile points and bifaces, Feature 3, the features uncovered at the dard excavation techniques and recording most of which are fragmentary, dominate site contain little in the way of cultural ma­ system to eliminate the potential for care­ the assemblage. Typological analysis of terial and no diagnostics. That this is typi­ less digging and the severe information the complete or nearly complete projectile cal of all the features suggests an underly­ loss that entails; 3) routine recovery of C14 points confirms that Late Archaic, Early ing similarity with regard to patterns of and flotation samples; and 4) formulation Woodland and Late Woodland occupa­ refuse disposal among the many recog­ of a problem-oriented research design. tions are present on the site. nized occupations of the site.

19 .tcxsnary Sit!

Grid North (Meters) Fig. 2 (Hansen-McKendry) Topographic Setting of the McKendry Site. Excavation Block Shown in Solid Fill. Note that Axes are in Meters; Fig. 3 (Hansen-McKendry) Location of McKendry Site in Western New York. Contour Intervals are in feet. _ N27W4

Grid North

N29E0 Unidentified Age/Culture Late Archaic Meadowood Phase N29E2 Late Woodland Fig. 3 (Hansen-McKendry) McKendry Site Historic Graves (19th Century AD) Excavation Block Showing Distribution of Cultural Features. N29E4 ^

12 10B ^0 N29E6 J&

If) J4A £2 N29EB N15E8 N17EB N19E8 N21E8 N23E8 N25EB /> ^29 33' S2X 31\T v 27 23 N27E10 N29E10

Table 1 (Hansen-McKendry) McKendry Site Radiocarbon Dates. Table 2 (Hansen-McKendry) McKendry Site Artifact Summary. Provenience Lab Number RCYBP* Calibrated Years B.C.** Projectile Feature 3 Beta-46638 2,260 +/- 70 379 B.C. Debitage Sherds Points Bifaces Cores Other Tools Surface Collection Feature 18 Beta-47638 4,250 +/- 80 2,897 B.C. 0 0 9 8 0 1 Drill 1 Retouched Flake Feature 14 Beta-47369 2,380 +/- 80 405 B.C. 1 Bevelled Adze Feature 21 Beta-47370 3,080 +/- 80 1,331 B.C. 1 Endscraper Excavation Units And Features Feature 24 Beta-47371 4,000 +/- 70 2,541 B.C. 20,120 95 65 73 34 5 Hammerstones "Radiocarbon Years Before Present +/- 1 3 Endscrapers 5 Retouched Flakes "Stuiver, M. and Becker, B. 1986, Radiocarbon, 28, 863-910. 5 Netsinkers 2 Groundstone Celts 9 Drills/Fragments 2 Anvil Stones 1 Pitted Stone 1 Ceramic Blocked End Pipe

20 Fig. 1 (Hansen-McKendry) Feature Distribution in Square N27E2. Fig. 2 (Hansen-McKendry) South Wall Profile of Feature 25 in Square N25E6. ill

F/g. 3 (Hansen-McKendry) Meadowood Phase Artifacts from the Fig. 4 (Hansen-McKendry) Vinette 1 Pottery from the McKendry Site. McKendry Site. Top Row: 3 Meadowood Projectile Points; Bottom row: Left: exterior face; Right: interior face. 5 Drills and 1 Cache Blade.

Fig. 5 (Hansen-McKendry) Blocked-End Tube Pipe from Feature 3.

Fig. 6 (Hansen-McKendry) Non-Meadowood Phase artifacts from the McKendry Site. Top Row (from left to right) 2 Untyped Concave Base Sidenotched points, 1 Madison Point, 1 Lamoka Point. Center: Netsinker. Bottom Row: 1 Brewerton Sidenotched point, 1 Untyped broad-bladed stemmed point, 1 untyped square stemmed point.

21 A RARE ANTLER HARPOON by Jim Hovan 16979 South Meadow Circle Strongsville, Ohio 44136

This unusually large antler harpoon was found many years ago on the sur­ face in Pickaway County, Ohio. Such sur­ face finds are rare since antler or bone artifacts rapidly deteriorate when ex­ posed to the weather. Harpoons are found both in Glacial Kame contexts and with Intrusive Mound burials. This harpoon could have come from either culture. The harpoon was originally collected by the late Ed W. Atkinson of Columbus who was once Editor and Executive Secretary of the Archaeological Society of Ohio.

Fig. 1 (Hovan) Nine inch antler harpoon from Pickaway County, Ohio. ESCH PHASE HOPEWELLIAN MIDDLE WOODLAND REMAINS IN EASTERN ERIE COUNTY, OHIO by Jonathan E. Bowen 419 Sandusky Ave. Fremont, Ohio 43420

A little more than a decade ago David References in Hopewell Archaeology, ed. by D.S. Stothers, Michael Pratt, and Orrin Shane Converse, Robert N. Brose and N. Greber. pp. 47-58. The (1979) defined the Hopewellian Middle 1970 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio. Woodland Esch phase (A.D. 1-500) in Society of Ohio, Columbus. north-central Ohio. It is named for the Stothers, David M., G. Michael Pratt, and two Esch mounds which were excavated Orrin C. Shane, III by Emerson Greenman about 60 years 1979 The Western Basin Middle Woodland. ago. The Esch mounds were located ad­ jacent to the Hopewellian settlement at 33ER2. In addition to the Esch mounds, Site Setting Artifacts Researcher(s) a total of sixteen Hopewellian sites have 33ER2 river bluff many potsherds, many points, James Haas been identified in eastern Erie County many bladelets, 2 cores G. Michael Pratt (Table 1, Fig. 1). Orrin C. Shane, III Two Esch phase settlements, 33ER2 David M. Stothers and 33ER14, have been located in east­ 33ER14 river bluff many potsherds, many points, Orrin C. Shane, III ern Erie County. Fieldwork by Orrin many bladelets Shane at these sites in the 1970's shows 33ER29 upland creek 3 points George B. DeMuth that both of these blufftop sites are more 33ER42 upland creek 2 points, 1 bladelet George B. DeMuth than one hectare in size. Both yielded nu­ 33ER44 upland creek merous potsherds, Flint Ridge Hopewell 3 points George B. DeMuth points (Converse 1970), and Flint Ridge 33ER46 upland creek 3 points George B. DeMuth prismatic bladelets (Converse 1970). 33ER47 upland creek 1 bladelet George B. DeMuth Of the smaller Esch phase sites with­ 33ER48 upland creek 12 points, 1 core George B. DeMuth out pottery, two stand out above the rest. Thomas DeMuth George DeMuth of the Sandusky Bay 33ER376 river bottomland 7 bladelets George B. DeMuth Chapter of the Archaeological Society of 33ER387 upland 1 point, made into burin George B. DeMuth Ohio, in co-operation with Thomas 33ER409 river bluff 3 bladelets James Haas DeMuth of rural Berlin Heights, has re­ covered 12 Flint Ridge Hopewell points Hoffmeister upland creek 3 points George DeMuth and one Flint Ridge bladelet core from Kingsley upland creek 1 point, 1 hafted scraper George B. DeMuth 33ER48 on Chappel Creek. George Landers upland spring 19 points, 3 hafted scrapers George B. DeMuth DeMuth has reported 23 Flint Ridge Ritz upland creek 4 points George B. DeMuth Hopewell points, three of which have Taylor upland creek 2 points George B. DeMuth been reworked into scrapers, from the Landers farm, at an upland spring. 7ao/e 1. Hopewellian Middle Woodland sites in eastern Erie County, Ohio. Although our knowledge of Esch phase settlement and land use patterns remains inadequate, a few general observations may be made. Both of the settlements, perhaps semi-permanent base camps, are located on river bluffs at the Castalia Prairie-oak forest interface. However, while smaller sites without pottery are abundant in the oak forest area, Esch phase remains are scarce in the Castalia Prairie area to the west. While substantial Esch phase lithic sites exist in upland Fig. 1 (Bowen) forested areas, all of the aceramic sites Esch Phase yielding more than a single prismatic Hopewellian bladelet are, like the large settlements, Components in located on the Huron River mainstem. Eastern Erie With the exception of a single bladelet of Co., Ohio. Indiana Hornstone from 33ER376, all of the lithic artifacts listed in Table 1 are made of Flint Ridge material. All of the data used in this report are included in the Ohio Archaeological Inventory or the county files of The Ohio Historical Society.

23 A CLASSIC ADENA BEAVER-TAIL BLADE by Phillip R. Shriver Miami University

In his Mounds for the Dead: An Analysis found at Flint Ridge, Ohio. ... All of the Because of the attractiveness of the of the Adena Culture, Don W. Dragoo, then blades of this group have edges worn and blade, I had it photographed, as shown serving as Curator of the Section of Man smoothed by use. The finding of one of here in Figures 1 and 2. Shaped from fine­ for the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, these blades ... with the fragile remains of grained dark brown flint, the blade mea­ discusses at length the exploration of the a bone handle still attached indicates that sures 3 3/4 inches in length and 1 9/16 Cresap Mound of the Adena Culture which probably many of these blades were used inches in width. These dimensions are he had directed for the museum in the as knives as well as for projectile points." comparable to those of the Adena beaver- summer of 1958. Located approximately (See Dragoo, 1963: 112.) tails found by Dragoo in the Cresap 6 1/2 miles down the Ohio River from All but one of the 37 beaver-tail blades Mound. Interestingly, the proportion of the Moundsville, West Virginia, the mound was found at the Cresap Mound were discov­ length of the stem of this particular blade situated on land once owned by George ered in features ranging from the sub-floor (3/4 inch) to its total length (3 3/4 inches) is Washington, later by the Cresap family, up to a height of 8.2 feet. The lone excep­ exactly one-fifth, the proportion cited by and finally by the M.A. Hanna Coal tion was uncovered in the fill earth. Dragoo Dragoo as characteristic of the larger Company. It was the prospective demoli­ concluded that this section of the mound Adena beaver-tails. In quality, it is as fine tion of the site by the coal company in or­ was Early-Middle Adena. His discovery of an example as I have seen. der to construct an industrial plant on that 12 rounded-base, straight-stemmed location that prompted the scientific sal­ "Robbins" blades at the 13.5-foot level in Acknowledgements vage of the mound by Carnegie Museum. the top zone of the Cresap Mound per­ To Mariemma Gilbert goes my apprecia­ (See Dragoo, 1963:6.) suaded him that these were products of a tion for her thoughtfulness in bringing the In the course of his investigation of the later addition to the mound. (See Dragoo, blade featured here to my Ohio History Cresap Mound, Dragoo found a dominant 1963:112-114.) class and for giving me permission to have blade form which he described as an Noel D. Justice, in his Projectile Point it photographed and featured in this article. "ovate-base, tapered-stemmed blade" or Types and Their Chronology, assigns a To the Miami University Audio Visual "beaver-tail." In all, 37 blades of this type time frame of 800-200 B.C. to Adena Service goes my gratitude for quality im­ were found, ranging in length from Stemmed or "beaver-tail" points and notes ages of it. 1 1/4 inches to 6 inches with an average of that "the blade edges ... are typically ex- 3 inches. The majority fell within the 2 1/2 curvate, although drill forms also occur. References to 3 1/2 inch range. In width, they ranged The haft region is usually ground and may Converse, Robert N. from 5/8 inch to 1 3/4 inches, with the av­ have limestone cortex intact on the edge 1973 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological erage at about 1 1/8 inches. Most of the of the stem." He suggests that they have Society of Ohio. blades had distinct shoulders. All were been found "over much of the eastern Dragoo, Don W. lenticular or biconvex in cross-section. United States." (1985:19) 1963 Mounds for the Dead: An Analysis of the Dragoo noted that "the proportion of the At the close of a recent class on Ohio's Adena Culture. Vol. 37, Annals of the length of the stem to the total length of the prehistory here at Miami University, one of Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh. blade varies from nearly one-half in the my colleagues, Mariemma Gilbert, showed Justice, Noel D. short blades to about one-fifth in the large me a museum-quality beaver-tailed Adena 1985 Projectile Point Types and Their blades." (See Dragoo, 1963: 111-112.) He blade that has been in her family's posses­ Chronology. Glenn A. Black Laboratory of also observed that the degree of work­ sion for many years. Like so many artifacts Archaeology, Indiana University, manship ranged "from crude to fine with found by earlier generations, no exact Bloomington. the finest craftsmanship present on the record of its provenance exists. Since the Kellar, James H. large examples. The material used in the family has for several generations lived in 1973 An Introduction to the Prehistory of manufacture of these blades was generally Ohio and Indiana, the likelihood is that its Indiana. Indiana Historical Society, good quality, fine-grained flint of the types origin was this area. Indianapolis. See pages 37-43.

Fig. 1 (Shriver) Ovate- base, tapered stemmed Adena blade of the form often referred to as "beaver-tail." Belonging to Mariemma Gilbert of Oxford, Ohio, it is 3 314 inches in length and shaped from fine-grained dark brown flint.

Fig. 2 (Shriver) Reverse side of the same blade.

24 BAR ATLATL WEIGHTS by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio

Even though bar atlatl weights are On all the more refined ones there is a Banded slate predominates in a majority seemingly the simplest and least compli­ distinct hafting arrangement. This is usually although ferruginous slate, unbanded cated in design of the wide variety of spear a deeply cut groove although there are slate, hematite or hardstone are some­ thrower weights, they are fairly rare. Few of some which may be only slightly grooved times seen. The example at the bottom is them are seen in field collections and or even roughened across the mid-section. made of flint which is rarely encountered. fewer of them have been recorded from Some have only notches in the sides while excavations. Their form is not intricate - others have notches cut into the distal Reference the bottom is usually flat and the sides el­ ends, but this is not often seen. Converse, Robert N. lipsoidal. There are two variants - one flat Engraving, seen on number 3 in the up­ 1978 Ohio Flint Types, Archaeological Society of and tabular and not usually as well made per row, is highly unusual as is tally-mark­ Ohio. (lower left), and the other better designed ing seen on number 2 upper row. with a square cross-section.

Fig. 1 (Converse) Bar atlatl weights from Ohio. Wayne Co., Allen Co., Richland Co., Lucas Co., Union Co., Clermont Co., Adams Co., Pickaway Co., Adams Co.

25 A CHLORITE PENDANT by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio

This unusual pendant was part of the collection of artifacts originally in the Cincinnati Art Museum which was trans­ ferred to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. One of the rarest items in the collection is the pendant shown in the color plate. Made of bright green chlorite, the pendant was acquired in 1938 - its provenience is not clear although it undoubtedly came from the southwestern part of Ohio. Bright green chlorite, with its silvery schist inclusions, is an extremely rare ma­ terial and one which was a favorite stone of Hopewell craftsmen. Such items as plummets, effigies, pipes and gorgets are made of this startling green rock - all of which are found with high status burials. Although the same stone was imported into Ohio during Archaic times as evi­ denced by the rare chlorite pick banner- stones found in the state, it was during the Hopewell period that chlorite found its most extensive use. The source of bright green chlorite is a mystery. Over the years, a number of peo­ ple have told me they knew where it was obtained, but to this date, I have yet to see even a small quarry sample. It does not originate in Ohio and the term "from the Appalachians" used by some writers is only a guess as to its origin. It probably does come from the mountains some­ where between Pennsylvania and the Carolinas but it would be interesting to know its precise source.

Fig. 1 (Converse) Bright green chlorite Hopewell pendant. Length 3 5/8 inches.

26 A GREAT PIPE FROM THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio

In 1990, the extensive collection of pre­ mean that the Hopewell people manufac­ identified. However, a majority are sculp­ historic artifacts in the Cincinnati Art tured great pipes. Since no other similar tures of birds, and most of these are Museum was transferred to the Cincinnati pipes have come from Hopewell contexts, ducks of several species. Effigies of birds Museum of Natural History. Most of the it is concluded that the Seip pipes were predominate in the great pipes illustrated collection was originally donated by brought to Ohio as trade or tribute. in George West's book "Tobacco Pipes Thomas Cleneay in the late 1800's. Such a Great pipes originate in the southern and Smoking Customs of the American collection naturally contained many part of the eastern United States and have Indians". Among the more unusual sculp­ unique objects. One of the most unusual been attributed to the Copena culture. tures are a toucan and a passenger pi­ is a large effigy pipe made of greenish- Copena is thought to have had contacts geon. Effigies of insects are rare in all black steatite and depicts the image of a with the Ohio area and to have been coevil Indian pipes or portrayals and the grasshopper. in time with Ohio Hopewell and Adena. grasshopper shown in the Cincinnati pipe Similar pipes - called great pipes - are Nearly all great pipes are made of black makes it a true rarity. An unusual feature - rare and are found primarily east of the steatite which often has shades of bluish- seen in a few other pipes - is that the pipe Mississippi. More of them occur in the gray, yellow-gray or greenish-gray. Other must be turned upside down to view the Tennessee area than elsewhere, although stones such as brown or gray steatite or grasshopper rightside up. examples from as far away as Michigan even limestone are known but are rare. are known. Only a handful of great pipes Black steatite is believed to have been Reference: have been found in Ohio, but strangely, quarried in the Tennessee-Carolinas area West, George A. one of the few documented in situ discov­ but its exact source is unknown. Very little 1934 Tobacco Pipes and Smoking Customs of eries of such a pipe occurred here at the steatite found its way into Ohio and the the American Indians, Milwaukee Seip Mound. Henry Shetrone uncovered material is rare in Hopewell. Museum. several large effigy pipes during his exca­ A variety of animals are depicted in vations in the 1920's at Seip's. This undis­ great pipe effigies. A few appear to be puted Hopewell association does not wolves or other canine species not easily

Fig. 1 (Converse) Great pipe in the effigy of a grasshopper.

27 EVIDENCE FOR A BASIC HOPEWELL UNIT OF MEASURE by William F. Romain 4000 Westbrook Drive, #502 Brooklyn, Ohio 44144

The remarkable precision in the design Soon thereafter, in 1885, in what was as well as halves and quarters of this unit and layout of the great geometric earth­ probably intended as a chimerical article, repeated itself throughout the earthwork works of Ohio has long been recognized. J. Ralston Skinner proposed that the British (Romain 1988). Interestingly enough, this Many of these earthworks are thousands of inch was the Mound Builders' standard unit unit of 126.4 feet seemed related to feet in length and breadth and describe of measure. Marshall's unit of 187 feet. At the time, this geometric shapes including circles, Unfortunately, Squier and Davis', as well relationship was suggested by the following squares, and octagons. Often times these as Whittlesey's data and maps were soon equation: (187 + 187)/3 = 124.6, which is earthworks incorporate 90 degree right an­ found to be inaccurate (Thomas 1889). within 1.4 percent of 126.4 feet (Romain gles that are laid out to an accuracy of Conclusions based on their data therefore 1988:50). better than 10 minutes of arc (see e.g., could not be relied upon. Merging the Units of Measure Thomas 1889). And, many of these same As far as I can tell, after these early ef­ Looking at the units of measure pre­ earthworks are aligned to true north or sig­ forts, the subject of mensurration as re­ sented by Marshall, Hively and Horn, and nificant celestial events to within 10 or 15 lated to the Ohio Hopewell seems to have Romain, there is little doubt that these minutes of arc (see e.g., Romain 1988:50). been neglected until the mid-1970s. In units are related. Marshall's 187 foot grid Also evident in the earthworks is the recur­ the late-1960s and mid-1970s, however, closely fits a number of Hopewell earth­ rence of certain linear units of measure. an interest by British and American ar­ works (see Note 1). At the same time, the Given these observations, there is little chaeologists in archaeoastronomy seems Serpent Mound unit of 126.4 feet appears doubt that the Mound Builders possessed to have triggered a corresponding and re­ related to Marshall's 187 foot figure. And, detailed observational knowledge of astro­ newed interest in the geometric, as well Hively and Horn's figures of 321.3 meters nomical phenomena, a method of counting as astronomical data evident in the Ohio and 320.6 meters mark units of measure and manipulating fairly large numbers, an earthworks. for two of the same earthworks that fit accurate means of measuring both angles One of the first investigators to re-exam­ Marshall's 187 foot grid. and distance, and a basic unit of measure. ine the earthworks in this light was James On the other hand, common sense tells In this paper, I will present evidence that A. Marshall. In a series of three papers, us that none of these units of measure­ a specific unit of measure was indeed uti­ Marshall (1978, 1980, 1987) proposed that: ment are truly definitive fundamental or ba­ lized by the Ohio Hopewell. This unit will be 1) the Hopewell used a grid system to lay sic units of measure. For one thing, all of referred to as the basic Hopewell unit of out their earthworks; 2) that this grid was the above measures would have been very measure and is equal to 1.053 feet, or comprised of squares which were about unwieldy and awkward to use they are about 12.6 inches. I believe the evidence 187 feet (or 57 meters) on each side; 3) that simply too large. One can hardly imagine will also show various multiples of this fig­ the Hopewell also "used the diagonal of the Hopewell people walking about with ure to have been commonly used. And, I this unit, which is equal to 264 feet and also measuring devices 187 feet, 126.4 feet, or will present data suggesting that the basic halves and quarters of these dimensions" 321 meters in length. Moreover, all of these Hopewell unit of measure may be related to (Marshall 1987:37); 4) that the origin of the units can be evenly divided into lesser fac­ a system of measurement used at later 187 foot measure is to be found in tors with the same results. For example, Mississippian sites. Finally, I think the evi­ Mexico - at Teotihuacan; and 5) that the Marshall's 187 foot grid could just as easily dence will show that the basic Hopewell Hopewell had knowledge of the Fibonacci be made up of halves or quarters of this unit of measurement could have its origins mathematical series. length and still approximately match the in human anatomy. Marshall also re-introduced the idea central junctures of his proposed earth­ proposed by Keplinger (1919-20:50-51) Background work correspondences. The same can be that the ancient concept of the "squared said for Romain's 126.4 foot unit of length In the 1840s, Ephraim G. Squier and circle" is expressed in the earthworks. Edwin H. Davis explored many of the and Hively and Horn's 321.3 or 320.6 me­ And, in an especially important insight, ter units of length. prehistoric earthworks in Ohio. One of the Marshall proposed that the Mound Given then, that the above units of length things they found was that the earthworks Builders intentionally utilized the 3:4:5 appear related, and that a smaller unit of incorporate linear measurements that re­ right triangle, as well as the 30:60:90 de­ length would be more practical, the ques­ peat themselves. They noted, for example, gree and 45:45:90 degree triangles in the tion really becomes a matter of determining that the circular embankments at High design of their earthworks. Bank and Hopeton are of the same diame­ what these units of measure have in com­ ter (Squier and Davis 1848:50). And they The next investigators on the scene were mon - i.e., their lowest common denomina­ noted that some of the square earthworks Ray Hively and Robert Horn. From their tor. This lowest common denominator then have sides that are 1,080 feet on each side survey work, Hively and Horn (1982:S1) becomes the basic Hopewell unit of length. (Squier and Davis 1848:48). Observations concluded that "the earthworks conform to In this instance, this basic unit of length such as these led Squier and Davis a simple but precise geometric construc­ happens to be equivalent to 1.053 feet, or (1848:49) to conclude that "some standard tion based on a single unit of length." about 12.6 inches. According to Hively and Horn (1982:S8), unit of measure" had to have been em­ Definitions ployed by the Mound Builders. Squier and this single unit of length is about 321.3 me­ At this juncture, it might prove useful to Davis did not, however, suggest what this ters for the Newark Earthworks, and about define a few terms. To begin with, there is a unit might be. 320.6 meters for the High Bank Earthworks (Hively and Horn 1984:S92). The average of distinction between the terms "unit of mea­ In about 1883, though, Col. Charles A. these two figures is approximately 321 me­ surement" and "standard of measurement." Whittlesey of Cleveland, Ohio, concluded ters. Hence, this figure (321 meters) was As noted in the American Heritage that the Mound Builders used a unit of considered by Hively and Horn (1984:S99) Dictionary (1976:812), a unit of measure­ measure equivalent to about 30 inches. to be the fundamental unit of length com­ ment is "a precisely defined quantity in Whittlesey (1884) based this conclusion on mon to many Hopewellian earthworks. terms of which the magnitude of all other his surveys of several earthworks. Notably, quantities of the same kind can be stated." some of these surveys were included in Yet another unit of measure was intro­ On the other hand, a standard of measure­ Squier and Davis' work, Ancient Monu­ duced in 1988 by the present author when ment is "an object which, under specified ments of the Mississippi Valley. a survey of the Serpent Mound revealed that a unit of measure equal to 126.4 feet, conditions, serves to define, represent, or

28 record the magnitude of a unit" (American and Langlois 1979). According to Baby and Harness Mound is the largest of these Heritage Dictionary 1976:812). Langlois (1979:18), these structures may mounds and is located within the largest Different again from the two terms just have served as specialized manufacturing circular enclosure. noted is the term basic unit of measure. In workshops. The site plans for two of these Over the years, the Liberty site has been this case, basic unit of measure refers to an structures as revealed by post hole pat­ extensively excavated, cultivated, and basi­ arbitrarily selected unit which is given the terns are shown in Figures 1 and 2. cally destroyed. During 1976-1977, how­ designated measure 1. Superimposed on these site plans are lines ever, excavations of what remained of the drawn by the present author with tick Analysis Harness Mound revealed the presence of a marks at intervals of 1.053 feet - or as The basic unit of length proposed in this structure described by Greber (1983:26) as close to that figure as the scale in the draw­ paper can be derived in several ways. (For resembling what is known historically as an ing allows. As can be seen, these tick a discussion of the mathematical theory Indian "Big House." This structure, as out­ marks closely coincide with the post hole underlying such analyses see O'Brien and lined by post hole patterns is shown in patterns. The impression here is that these Christiansen 1986.) One way is to divide Figures 8 and 9. In Greber's original draw­ structures were built by setting wooden Hively and Horn's unit of measure of 321 ing, the two structures appear to have been posts into the ground at intervals about meters or about 1,053 feet by 1,000. This connected to each other. For illustration equal to the basic Hopewell unit of mea­ results in the unit of length of 1.053 feet. purposes here, they have been separated. sure - i.e., 1.053 feet, or 12.6 inches (see Multiples of this unit are presented in Table Superimposed on these site plans are lines Note 2). 1. And as will become evident, these multi­ drawn by the present author with tick ples are found throughout the earthworks. marks at intervals that are multiples of the Mound City suggested basic Hopewell unit of measure. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Ohio's Mound City is a complex of more than 20 prehistoric earthworks have been mostly burial mounds surrounded by a rectangular The Harness structures are particularly destroyed. Further, as has been com­ earthen embankment. The site is located on interesting because three different multiples mented on by others (e.g., Robertson the west bank of the Scioto River, in Ross of the basic Hopewell unit appear to have 1983), most of the early surveys of the County, near Chillicothe, Ohio. The site has been used by its builders. In Figure 8, for earthworks are flawed by inaccurate mea­ been extensively excavated, partially dis­ example, superimposed on this drawing surements with respect to distances, an­ turbed by the construction of Ft. Sherman, are lines drawn by the present author, with gles, and cardinal directions. One of the and restored. During the mid-1960s, the tick marks at intervals of about 1.3 meters, few exceptions to this situation are the previously undisturbed areas under or 4.26 feet; and 1.6 meters, or 5.25 feet. maps and data presented by Thomas Mounds 10 and 13 were excavated (Brown As can be seen, these tick marks closely (1889). Generally, Thomas' data can be 1979; Brown and Baby 1966). What these coincide with the post hole patterns. considered accurate. In fact, Hively and excavations revealed were the post hole Apparently, for this part of the "Big House" Horn (1984:S89-S90) found that the mea­ patterns and cultural remains associated structure the Hopewell used a post hole in­ sured distances presented by Thomas for with what appears to be a charnel house terval of about 4.26 feet, or four times the High Bank and Newark are accurate to under each mound. The floor plans of these basic Hopewell unit of length for the within about one-half of one percent. structures are shown in Figures 3 and 4. perimeter, or outside wall of the structure; while for the interior posts, they used a post For this study therefore, I have tried to Superimposed on these floor plans are lines hole separation of about 5.25 feet, or five rely upon either site plans made by con­ drawn by the present author, with tick times the basic Hopewell unit of length. temporary authorities who have employed marks at intervals of about 2.106 feet - or standard archaeological and/or surveying again, as close to this figure as the scale in Superimposed on the floor plan shown in techniques, or on studies that are sup­ the drawing will allow. As shown in Figures Figure 9 are lines drawn by the present au­ ported by data published by Thomas. In 3 and 4, these tick marks closely coincide thor, with tick marks at intervals of about the case of the Serpent Mound and with the post hole patterns. The distinct im­ 1.6 meters, or 5.25 feet; and 1.9 meters, or Newark, it will be noted that the illustrations pression here is that the walls of these 6.23 feet. As can be seen, these tick marks presented herein represent the partially re­ structures were built by means of wooden also closely coincide with the post hole stored earthworks. For a number of rea­ posts, set at intervals about 2.106 feet or patterns. What distinguishes this part of the sons too detailed to pursue here, it is sug­ 25.3 inches apart. Notably, this interval is structure, however, is that the Hopewell ap­ gested that these representations fairly two times the suggested basic Hopewell parently used a post hole separation of accurately reflect the original dimensions of unit of length of 1.053 feet. about 5.25 feet or five times the basic Hopewell unit of length for the perimeter, or these particular earthworks. For more de­ Other multiples of the basic Hopewell unit outside wall of the structure and for the tailed discussions on this matter the reader of length are also present at Mound City - east-west interior post hole separation; is referred to the reports by Hively and Horn as shown by Figures 5, 6, and 7. These il­ while at the same time, they used a post (1982) and Romain (1987a). lustrations present the post hole patterns hole interval of 6.23 feet or six times the ba­ In any event, I have used what I believe found under various mounds as revealed by sic Hopewell unit of length for the north- to be the most accurate data currently William C. Mills' (1922) excavations. Once south post holes. (See Note 3.) available. What will ultimately become im­ again, superimposed on these floor plans portant is how well the overall proposed are lines drawn by the present author at in­ In the Harness Mound we have evidence system of measurements fits all of the tervals that are multiples of the basic for the use of three distinct multiples of the Hopewellian earthworks and features. Hopewell unit of measure. In Figures 5 and basic Hopewell unit of length. Moreover, 6, which show the floor plans for Mounds 8, each of these multiples is separated from Seip Earthworks 12, and 13, a unit of measure equal to five the other by a figure that is essentially equal The Seip complex is comprised of sev­ times the basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet to the basic unit of length. eral large mounds, a larger central rectan­ appears to separate many of the post Turning now to the overall dimensions of gular mound, two large circular embank­ holes; while in Figure 7, which shows the earthworks, I think it will become in­ ments and one square embankment. The Mound 18, a unit of measure equal to seven creasingly evident that the earthworks also site is located just north of Paint Creek in times the basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet employ very large multiples of the basic Ross County, Ohio. Less than twenty per­ appears to separate the post holes. Hopewell unit. cent of the original earthworks are pre­ served as a state park, while the remainder Liberty Earthworks - Harness Mound The Serpent Mound of the site has been mostly destroyed by The Liberty Earthworks are located on The Serpent Mound is an enormous cultivation. the east bank of the Scioto River, in Ross earthen effigy that when viewed from During the 1970s, excavations in the area County, near Chillicothe, Ohio. The com­ above, appears to represent a serpent in between the central mound and large circu­ plex is comprised of one large square and the act of striking or swallowing an oval fig­ lar embankment revealed the presence of three circular enclosures along with about ure. The site is located on the east bank of several occupational-type structures (Baby 14 associated mounds. The Edwin Brush Creek, in Adams County, Ohio. As of this writing, the date of the effigy's con-

29 struction is undetermined - and even the 321.3 meters; while as shown in Figure 13, The High Bank Earthwork identity of its builders is uncertain. Some the distances separating alternate vertices The last site to be considered here is authorities have suggested that the effigy is of the Newark Octagon are also about known as the High Bank Earthwork. This Adena in origin. However, there are clear 321.3 meters. In fact, according to Hively site is located on the east bank of the features evident in the earthwork that are and Horn (1982:S8), the average deviation Scioto River, in Ross County, near more characteristic of Hopewell. of these lines from the figure of 321.3 me­ Chillicothe, Ohio. The complex consists of In any event, the site is included in this ters is only 0.4 percent. Significantly, this a Circle and Octagon enclosure along with analysis because the units of measure recurring figure of 321.3 meters, or numerous associated mounds. Although found at the site fit the pattern of measure­ 1,053.86 feet is approximately 1,000 times the site has long been under cultivation, ment suggested herein. If the site turns out the suggested basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 the walls of the Circle and Octagon are still to be Hopewell, then fine. Alternatively, if feet (1,000 x 1.053 feet = 1,053.0 feet). visible. the site is Adena, and the Adena happened Also found at Newark is another signifi­ Important to this study are the observa­ to use the same system of measurement cant multiple of the proposed basic tions made by Hively and Horn (1984:S91- as the Hopewell, then for our purposes Hopewell unit of length. More specifically, S92) that the diameter of the High Bank here, the question of Hopewell or Adena Hively and Horn (1982:S9) note that the Circle is about 320.6 meters, and that the becomes a mute issue. distance between the center of the eight distances between the Octagon's ver­ Anyway, as indicated earlier, the earth­ Observatory Circle and what is known as tices have a mean value of 320.8 meters. work was surveyed by the present author in the Fairground Circle is about 5.99 times Hively and Horn (1984:S93) also point out 1987 (Romain 1987b). The resultant plan of the unit of 321.3 meters (5.99 x 321.3 me­ that the combined length of the Circle and the effigy is shown in Figures 10, 11, and ters = 1,924.6 meters = 6,312.7 feet); while Octagon equals two times the unit of 320.6 12. Superimposed on Figure 10 are lines the distance between the center of the meters. The features just mentioned are drawn by the present author showing what Octagon and what is known as the Newark shown in Figure 16. was referred to as one-quarter and one-half Square is about 6.02 times the unit of 321.3 Significantly, the value of 320.6 meters of the fundamental Serpent Mound unit meters (6.02 x 321.3 meters = 1,934.2 me­ given by Hively and Horn for the diameter (Romain 1988). Similarly, Figures 11 and 12 ters = 6,344.2 feet). These relationships are of the High Bank Circle equals about show what was referred to as the funda­ shown in Figure 14. What is especially sig­ 1,051.6 feet which is close to 1,000 times mental Serpent Mound unit, as well as one- nificant, however, is that both of these dis­ the suggested basic Hopewell unit of half of the fundamental Serpent Mound tances are very close to 6,000 times the length of 1.053 feet (1,000 x 1.053 feet = unit. As can be seen, these units of length suggested basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 1,053.0 feet). Likewise, the eight distances closely match the central junctures of the feet (6,000 x 1.053 feet = 6,318.0 feet). between the vertices of the High Bank Octagon are also each close to 1,000 times effigy. At the time of the Serpent Mound re­ The Baum and Liberty Squares port, the fundamental Serpent Mound unit the suggested basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 The Baum Earthworks are located in feet. More specifically, the mean length of was given as 126.4 feet (Romain 1988). Ross County, on the bank of Paint Creek, Significant for this study is that one- the distances between the Octagon's ver­ near Boumeville, Ohio. The earthworks are tices is 320.8 meters, which is equal to quarter of the Serpent Mound unit is comprised of two large circular embank­ equal to 31.6 feet, which is equal to 30 about 1,052.2 feet; while again, 1,000 times ments and an attached square enclosure. the basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet times the basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 Similarly, the Liberty Earthworks are also feet (30 x 1.053 feet = 31.59 feet). equals 1,053.0 feet. Finally, as shown by located in Ross County. However, as men­ Figure 16, the combined length of the Similarly, one-half of the Serpent Mound tioned earlier, the complex is situated on unit is equal to 63.2 feet, which is equal to Circle and Octagon equals about 641.2 the banks of the Scioto River, near meters, or 2,103.14 feet which, is close to 60 times the basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 Chillicothe, Ohio. Both earthworks have feet (60 x 1.053 feet = 63.18 feet). Finally, 2,000 times the basic Hopewell unit of been extensively damaged by agricultural 1.053 feet (2,000 x 1.053 feet = 2,106.0 the fundamental Serpent Mound unit of practices. 126.4 feet is equal to 120 times the basic feet). What is especially interesting about Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet (120 x 1.053 Temporal Continuities feet = 126.36 feet). Clearly, the Serpent these two earthworks is their commonality of linear dimensions with the Newark Having found that a basic unit of mea­ Mound was laid out using multiples of the sure was used at all Hopewellian earth­ basic Hopewell unit of length. Observatory Circle. As explained by Hively and Horn, works examined thus far, it makes sense The Newark Earthworks The lengths of the diagonals of the that evidence for similar systems, or even The next site to be considered are the Baum and Liberty squares are both the same system of measurement might be Newark Earthworks located in Licking equal to three times the radius of the found before and after the Hopewell flores­ County, in and around the city of Newark (Newark) Observatory Circle to within cence. Ohio. The complex is situated near the better than 1 per cent (Hively and Horn In this regard, it will be noted that there is confluence of Raccoon Creek and the 1982:S18). occasional mention in the literature of pos­ Licking River. Much of the site has been Interestingly enough, all three distances sible contact between the Poverty Point destroyed, however, some original sections mentioned above are equal to about 1,500 culture and the people of the Adena- still remain and yet other sections such as times the basic Hopewell unit of measure. Hopewell area (e.g., Ford and Webb the Observatory Circle and Octagon have More specifically, as per Hively and Horn's 1956:125; Webb 1982:72-73). Recall that been restored. That these restoration ef­ survey, the radius of the Newark Observ­ the Poverty Point culture dates to some­ forts fairly accurately reflect the original di­ atory Circle is 160.65 meters, or about time before 1,000 B.C. Certainly, both areas mensions of at least the Circle and 526.93 feet. Three times this radius is would have had easy access to each other Octagon is shown by the fact that 1,580.79 feet. This figure in turn, closely ap­ via the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. And, Middleton's pre-restoration measurements proximates 1,500 times the suggested ba­ there is some evidence that certain artifacts (Thomas 1889) on average, agree with sic Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet (1,500 x recovered from Poverty Point were made Hively and Horn's (1982:S6) post-restora­ 1.053 feet = 1,579.5 feet). Correspondingly, from Ohio area flint (Ford and Webb tion measurements to within one meter. Thomas (1889:26-27) gives the diagonal of 1956:51,126). Additionally, it is interesting the Baum Square as 1,584 feet, and the di­ to note the possible alignment of the Importantly, Hively and Horn's (1982:S8) Poverty Point site to lunar standstills survey of the earthworks showed that the agonal of the Liberty Square as 1,566 feet. As can be seen, the figures for the diago­ (Purrington 1983), and the alignments of Newark Octagon could be laid out "quite later Hopewell sites to the same phenom­ precisely using a method of geometric con­ nals of these two squares are also very close to 1,500 times the basic Hopewell ena. Moreover, the Poverty Point site is a struction based on only one length, the di­ large geometric earthwork resembling part ameter of the Observatory Circle...." unit of 1.053 feet (1,500 x 1.053 feet = 1,579.5 feet). These relationships are of an octagon and too, the Hopewell were According to Hively and Horn (1982:S8), well-known for their examples of octagon the diameter of the Observatory Circle is shown in Figure 15.

30 earthworks. Poverty Point of course, is from the stature estimates provided for 24 the distal end of the metacarpals provides made up of a series of concentric ridges adult Hopewell males recovered from the a very practical and consistently accurate and again, the Hopewell too employed a Gibson site in the Lower Illinois Valley means of measure. Figure 17 illustrates my similar concentric ridge design in certain (Buikstra 1976). In her study of the skeletal point. of their earthworks - notably at Ports­ remains from that site, Buikstra (1976: In Figure 17, the person pictured has her mouth, Ohio. Appendix H) provided stature estimates for right arm extended horizontally. Suspended Of particular interest, however, is the ob­ each recovered individual male. These esti­ from the point where the index and middle servation that the Poverty Point Octagon's mates were made using standard formulae fingers join the metacarpals is a weighted concentric ridges are separated from each (Genoves 1967) and ranged from 157.67 line or plumb line. This line is attached to a other by about 150 feet, as measured from cm to 181.56 cm. From this data I summed stick which rests on top of the proximal crest to crest (Ford and Webb 1956:16). and calculated the average for Buikstra's ends of the fingers. Because the plumbed This phenomenon occurs no less than 25 stature estimates. This average is 66.5 line forms a true perpendicular between the times and implies the use of a standard inches. arm and the ground, then the distance on unit of measure. This in turn, could mean Next, consider that the human arm, as the ground between the edge of the right that the idea of a basic unit of measure, as measured from the shoulder joint or proxi­ foot and the plumb bob will be equal to the well as the alignment of sites to lunar phe­ mal end of the humerus to the distal end of shoulder joint to distal metacarpal bone nomena may have its conceptual an­ the metacarpal bones (where the fingers length. For a person who is 66.5 inches in tecedents as early as one thousand years meet the palm of the hand) is roughly equal height, this distance on the ground will be before the Hopewell - somewhere in the to 38 percent of the height of the human about 25.27 inches (38 percent of 66.5 Archaic period. body (see Note 4). inches = 25.27 inches ) which again, is vir­ Going the other way in time, it may be Now, if the average height of an adult tually equal to twice the basic Hopewell very significant that the system of Hopewell Hopewell male was 66.5 inches, then 38 unit of measure. Using this method of mea­ measurement proposed in this paper corre­ percent of that figure is 25.27 inches. sure, it would have been very simple to lay lates to within 1.5 (one and one-half) per­ In other words, the calculated length of out long lines that are accurate multiples of cent of the "Toltec Module" system of mea­ an adult male Hopewell arm from shoulder the basic Hopewell unit of measure. surement found at later Mississippian sites. joint to distal metacarpals should be 25.27 Recall that the "Toltec Module" is equal to inches. Coincidentally enough, one-half of Summary about 47.5 meters; and that Sherrod and this length is virtually identical to the basic In the preceding sections, evidence was Rolingson (1987) found more than two Hopewell unit of length of 12.6 inches presented from eight different sites sug­ dozen Mississippian sites including (25.27 inches / 2 = 12.64 inches). Each gesting that a basic unit of measure or its Cahokia, to incorporate multiples of the span of the ideal Hopewell arm therefore multiple was used at these sites. Indeed, "Toltec Module." Typically, Sherrod and would be equal to two basic Hopewell units 13 different multiples of the suggested ba­ Rolingson found that dozens of burial of measure. Think of the situation as analo­ sic unit of length were identified. This basic mounds and other features at such gous to our foot and yard. That is, the span unit of length is equal to 1.053 feet, or Mississippian sites were separated from of an arm which is equal to two basic about 12.6 inches. With this unit of mea­ each other by distances that are multiples Hopewell units is analogous to our yard; sure the Hopewell people were able to ac­ of 47.5 meters. while one-half of an arm span is equal to curately lay out distances ranging from The correspondence between the the basic Hopewell unit of measure and is about one foot to well over one mile. Hopewell system of measurement and the analogous to our foot. The suggestion was also made that the Toltec Module system of measurement is Admittedly, all sorts of objections can be Hopewell system of measurement may be shown by Table 2. This correspondence raised against the comparison just made. It related to the later Mississippian system of can also be demonstrated thusly: could be argued that the Illinois Hopewell measurement using the "Toltec Module." Toltec Module = 47.5 meters = 155.8 were not the same size as the Ohio And finally, it was suggested that the basic feet; Hopewell; or that the sample size from the Hopewell unit of measure may have its ori­ 155.8 feet/150 = 1.0386; Gibson site is not large enough; or that gins in as simple a thing as the length of 1.0386 feet = 98.6 percent of the basic Buikstra should have used different formu­ the human arm. Hopewell unit of length which is 1.053 feet. lae for her estimates; or that the proposed Pursuing this last idea a bit further, if in­ Hence, the correspondence between the arm to stature ratio is not appropriate to deed the human arm was used as a stan­ systems is to within 1.5 percent (100% - Hopewell males. dard of measurement, then this could pro­ 98.6% = 1.4%) On the other hand, I think the correspon­ vide yet another example of how the According to Sherrod and Rolingson dence just noted argues against the likeli­ Hopewell established a link between them­ (1987:134), the "actual distance of the hood of mere coincidence. Consider too, selves and the cosmos. Let me explain. Toltec Module varies by up to 10% or that examples of the human arm being If the earthworks were built using a basic ±4.75 m from a precise 47.5 m." As can be used as a standard of measure are well- unit of measure, and if this unit of measure seen, the proposed Hopewell system of documented for many cultures, from the reflects part of the physical body of man by measurement fits well within this 10 per­ earliest times. The nautical unit of measure virtue of its length, then symbolically, a part cent variation. known as the fathom, for example, is de­ of man is incorporated into each and every In truth, I think we are looking at manifes­ rived from the length of a person's out­ earthwork every time one of these units of tations of the same fundamental system of stretched arms, from finger tip to finger tip measure is used. As discussed in an earlier measurement extending from Mississippian - and can be traced back to Roman times. article (Romain 1991), the earthworks ap­ times, back into early eastern North Similarly, the Biblical unit of measure pear to have been physically aligned to im­ American prehistory. known as the cubit was equal to the length portant celestial events. By incorporating a between the elbow and outstretched fin­ measure of man into the earthworks, how­ Possible Origins gers. And, closer to the area under discus­ ever, the link between the Hopewell people Returning to the matter of the basic sion here, there is very good evidence that and the heavens is further established. Hopewell unit of length, one must wonder indigenous Mesoamerican peoples based Indeed, by this means, the very identity of how the Hopewell arrived at this particular their measurements on various spans of the Hopewell people in relation to the cos­ unit of measure. the arm and hand (O'Brien and Christian­ mos is established and expressed for as One possible explanation may be found sen 1986). Accordingly, it would not be out long as the earthworks endure. in a study of human anatomy. Consider the of place to suggest that the Hopewell too following tentative and admittedly, specula­ may have based their system of measure­ Notes tive observations. First, the average height ment on the human arm. 1. As it turns out, Marshall's unit of 187 feet for an adult Hopewell male is estimated to Certainly, the standard of measure sug­ is close to 180 times the suggested basic be about 66.5 inches. This figure is derived gested herein, i.e., from shoulder joint to Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet (180 x 1.053

31 feet = 189.54 feet). In fact, the difference all difference in the proportion of long Keplinger, John G. between these two figures is only about bone length to stature for white, black, 1919-20 Who Were the Mound Builders? Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society XII:45-52. 1.3 percent. Similarly, Marshall's proposed and oriental males who are 66.5 inches tall Krogman, Wilton is approximately 3 percent. For a human diagonal of his 187 foot measure, i.e., 264 1962 The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine. feet, is very close to 250 times the sug­ arm estimated to be 25.27 inches in Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois. gested basic Hopewell unit of 1.053 feet length, this percentage difference between Marshall, James A. (250 x 1.053 feet = 263.25 feet). races works out to be about .76 inches, or 1987 An Atlas of American Indian Geometry. Ohio Like Hively and Horn's unit of 321 meters only three-quarters of an inch. For the pur­ Archaeologist 37(2):36-49. and Romain's Serpent Mound unit of poses of this study, I think the effect of this 1980 Geometry of the Hopewell Earthworks. Ohio 126.4 feet, Marshall's units of 187 feet and difference can be considered negligible. Archaeologist 30(2):8-12. 1978 American Indian Geometry Ohio 264 feet can probably be considered mul­ Archaeologist 28(1):29-33. tiples of the basic Hopewell unit of mea­ Acknowledgements Mills, William C. sure. I would like to thank Kent State University 1922 Exploration of the Mound City Group. Ohio 2. Please note I am not suggesting the Press for permission to use several of the State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly Hopewell laid out their post holes to toler­ figures found in this paper. And, special XXXI:423-584. ances of thousandths or hundredths of an thanks are extended to my fiance Evie Lee Morris, William (ed.) 1976 The American Heritage Dictionary of the inch. What I am saying is that the physical for volunteering as my photographic assis­ English Language. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. standard they used was equal to 12.6 tant. O'Brien, Patricia J., and Hanne D. Christiansen inches - which in turn is equal to 1.053 1986 An Ancient Maya Measurement System. feet. References American Antiquity 51 (1 ):136-151. Also, not every individual post hole is laid Baby, Raymond S., and Suzanne M. Langlois Purrington, Robert D. out to an interval of 12.6 inches - nor in 1979 Seip Mound State Memorial: Nonmortuary 1983 Supposed Solar Alignments at Poverty Point. retrospect can we realistically expect that Aspects of Hopewell. In Hopewell Archae­ American Antiquity 48:157-161. ology: The Chillicothe Conference, edited by Robertson, Thomas H. to be the case. Actually, I think it is re­ David S. Brose and N'omi Greber, pp.16-18. 1983 The Reliability of Historical Maps of Earth­ markable that the Hopewell laid out any of Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio. works in the Ohio Valley. Archaeoastronomy their post holes to the degree of regularity Bass, William M. 6(1-4):75-79. that is apparent. Certainly, this implies an 1971 Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Romain, William F. ordered way of thinking - at least in terms Manual of the Human Skeleton. Missouri 1991 Possible Astronomical Alignments at Hope­ of their construction activities. It may also Archaeological Society, Columbus, Missouri. well Sites in Ohio. Ohio Archaeologist in press reflect a belief in the inter-connectedness Brown, James A. 1988 Geometry at the Serpent Mound. Ohio 1979 Charnel Houses and Mortuary Crypts: Archaeologist 38(1):50-54. of all things - big and small. Disposal of the Dead in the Middle Woodland 1987a Serpent Mound Revisited. Ohio 3. Regarding the three multiples suggested Period. In Hopewell Archaeology: The Archaeologist 37(4):4-10. for Harness, it should be noted that the Chillicothe Conference, edited by David S. 1987b The Serpent Mound Map. Ohio differences of 0.088 feet, 0.015 feet, and Brose and N'omi Greber, pp. 211 -219. Kent Archaeologist 37(4):38-42. 0.048 feet between the calculated multi­ State University Press, Kent, Ohio. Sherrod, P. Clay, and Martha Ann Rolingson ples of the basic Hopewell unit of length Brown, James A., and Raymond S. Baby 1987 Surveyors of the Ancient Mississippi Valley: (see Table 1) and the figures given for the 1966 Mound City Revisited. MS on file, Department Modules and Alignments in Prehistoric of Archaeology. Ohio Historical Society, Mound Sites. Arkansas Archaeological Survey post hole separation at Harness (i.e., 1.3, Columbus. Research Series No. 28. 1.6, and 1.9 meters) reflect rounding off Buikstra, Jane E. Skinner, J. Ralston errors implicit in converting distances me­ 1976 Hopewell in the Lower Illinois Valley: A 1886-87 The Identification of the British Inch As the chanically plotted from Greber's metric Regional Approach to the Study of Human Unit of Measure of the Mound Builders of the scale to equivalent distances in feet. Biological Variability and Prehistoric Behavior. Ohio Valley. Journal of the Cincinnati Society 4. This estimate is derived from Bass' (1971) Northwestern University Archaeological of Natural History IX:115-127, 142-162, 231 - Program. Scientific Papers No. 2. 243. Figure 6 and Ubelaker's (1978) Figure 124 Ford, James A., and Clarence H. Webb Squier, Ephraim G., and Edwin H. Davis which each present the figure of an ideal­ 1956 Poverty Point, A Late Archaic Site in 1848 Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. ized standing skeleton. In the case of Louisiana. American Museum of Natural Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. Bass' illustration, the proximal humerus - History, Anthropological Papers 46 (1). 1. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. distal metacarpal length to overall stature Genoves, Santiago Thomas, Cyrus ratio is 38 percent. For Ubelaker's illustra­ 1967 Proportionality of the Long Bones and Their 1889 The Circular, Square, and Octagonal Earth­ tion, the ratio is 37 percent. Relation to Stature Among Mesoamericans. works of Ohio. Bureau of American Ethnology American Journal of Physical Anthropology Bulletin No. 10, pp. 7-33. Smithsonian For an individual who is 66.5 inches in 26:67-77. Institution, Washington, D.C. height, this one percent difference be­ Greber, N'omi Ubelaker, Douglas H. tween Bass' and Ubelaker's illustrations 1983 Recent Excavations at the Edwin Harness 1978 Human Skeletal Remains: Excavation, would be equal to about two-thirds of one Mound, Liberty Works, Ross County, Ohio. Analysis, Interpretation. Aldine Publishing Co., inch. The point is that two well-known au­ Mid-Continental Journal of Archaeology, Chicago. thorities both agree to within one percent, Special Paper No. 5. Kent State University Webb, Clarence H. on the proportion of arm length to stature. Press, Kent, Ohio. 1982 The Poverty Point Culture. (Second ed., re­ vised.) Geoscience and Man Vol 17. Louisiana Hence, the 38 percent figure is probably a Hively, Ray, and Robert Horn 1984 Hopewellian Geometry and Astronomy at State University School of Geoscience. pretty reliable idealized estimate. High Bank. Archaeoastronomy 7:S85-S100. Whittlesey, Charles Admittedly, the proportion of long bone (Supplement to Vol. 15, Journal for the 1884 Metrical Standard of the Mound Builders, length to stature varies, however, among History of Astronomy.) Deduced by the Method of Even Divisors. races. Using the tabular regression data 1982 Geometry and Astronomy in Prehistoric Ohio. Proceedings of the American Association for presented by Krogman (1962:Fig.45) Archaeoastronomy 4:SI-S20. (Supplement to the Advancement of Science for the Year though, it can be concluded that the over­ Vol. 13, Journal for the History of Astronomy.) 1883. XXX11:422-425. Abstract.

32 Multiple Site Toltec Module Hooewell Unit Difference 1 X 1.053 ft. = 1.053 ft. Seip 1 X .0386 ft. 1.0386 ft. 1.053 ft. 0.0144 ft. 2 x 1.053 = 2.106 Mound City 2 x .0386 2.0772 2.106 0.0288 3 x 1.053 = 3.159 3 x .0386 3.1158 3.159 0.0432 4 x 1.053 = 4.212 Harness Mound 4 x .0386 4.1544 4.212 0.0576 5 x 1.053 = 5.265 Harness Mound, Mound City 5 X .0386 5.1930 5.265 0.0720 6 x 1.053 = 6.318 Harness Mound 6 x .0386 6.2316 6.318 0.0864 7 x 1.053 = 7.371 Mound City 7 x .0386 7.2702 7.371 0.1008 8 x 1.053 = 8.424 8 x .0386 8.3088 8.424 0.1152 9 x 1.053 = 9.477 9 x .0386 9.3474 9.477 0.1296 10 x 1.053 = 10.530 10 x .0386 10.386 10.530 0.144 20 x 1.053 = 21.060 20 x .0386 20.772 21.060 0.288 30 x 1.053 = 31.590 Serpent Mound 30 x .0386 31.158 31.590 0.432 60 x 1.053 = 63.180 Serpent Mound 60 x .0386 62.316 63.180 0.864 100 x 1.053 = 105.300 100 x .0386 = 103.860 105.300 1.440 120 x 1.053 = 126.360 Serpent Mound 120 x .0386 124.632 126.360 1.728 180 x 1.053 = 189.540 180 x .0386 = 186.948 189.540 2.592 500 x 1.053 = 526.500 Newark 500 x .0386 = 519.300 526.500 7.200 1,000 x 1.053 = 1,053.000 Newark, High Bank 1,000 x .0386 = 1,038.6 1,053.0 14.4 1,500 x 1.053 = 1,579.500 Baum, Liberty 1,500 x .0386 = 1,557.9 1,579.5 21.6 2,000 x 1.053 = 2,106.000 High Bank 2,000 x .0386 = 2,077.2 2,106.0 28.8 3,000 x 1.053 = 3,159.000 3,000 x .0386 = 3,115.8 3,159.0 43.2 6,000 x 1.053 = 6,318.000 Newark 6,000 x .0386 = 6,231.6 6,318.0 86.4 Table 1. Selected Multiples of the Basic Hopewell Unit of Measure Table 2. Comparison of Selected Toltec Module and Basic Hopewell Unit (1.053 ft.). Multiples.

40L28 •10L14 tol-24-

3oLZS - °

•40LI • • o - -

0°0 HOUSE

© CD <°°o Fig. 1 (Romain) Post hole patterns at the Seip Earthworks, Site 3, at intervals equal to one basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified after Baby and Langlois 1979: Fig. 4.3. Reproduced by permission of The Kent State Fig. 2 (Romain) Post hole patterns at the Seip Earthworks, Site 4, at University Press. intervals equal to one basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified after Baby and Langlois 1979: Fig. 4.4. Reproduced by permission of The Kent State University Press.

Fig. 3 (Romain) Post hole patterns at Mound City Group, Mound 10, at intervals MAPSm equal to two times the basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified after Brown 1979:27.1. Reproduced by permission of The Kent State University Press.

33 / ° e * >o 0 _o

\ * • <>

j i c rematory 1 E \ 3 °7* $ Legend -. >-° depository ssier o post-hole \e a « i 2 a S 'O >S 10

Fig. 4 (Romain) Post hole patterns at Mound City Group, Mound 13, at Fig. 5 (Romain) Post hole patterns at Mound City Group, Mound 8, at intervals equal to two times the basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified intervals equal to five times the basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified after Brown 1979: Fig. 27.2. Reproduced by permission of The Kent after Mills 1922: Fig. 4. State University Press.

Legend \ o post-Stole

?resn bur/ccl

sttory I Jo Cf A. cautery \ °is> tig

S \ smaller crty. 2<'httow larger I . /

PLAN OF FLOOR MOUNDS 12 &I3 MOUND CITY GROUP SCALE: M FEET 'S 'Q S L PLAIN OF FLOOR Fig. 6 (Romain) Post hole patterns at Mound City Group, Mounds 12 and 13, at intervals equal to five times the basic Hopewell unit of length. MOUND *1& Modified after Mills 1922: Fig. 10. MOUND CITY GROUP SCALE IN FEET J' O to" 20~ JO'

Fig. 7 (Romain) Post hole patterns at Mound City Group, Mound 18, at intervals equal to seven times the basic Hopewell unit of length. Modified after Mills 1922: Fig. 17.

34 -i-*- -f- 'M * b •> fes h * a -* * * * . % 0 * *——-? * ' % V 0 •.• on* * * . •

-ft

& •*• 4 •

8 4- »-d e 4» r 0 ' O * «- * *-*—Q-

550 545 535 530 Fig. 9 (Romain) Post hole patterns at the Liberty Earthworks, Harness F/g. 8 (Romain) Post hole patterns at the Liberty Earthworks, Harness Mound, at intervals equal to five and six times the basic Hopewell unit of Mound, at intervals equal to four and five times the basic Hopewell unit length. Modified after Greber 1983: Fig. 3.3. Reproduced by permission of length. Modified after Greber 1983: Fig. 3.3. Reproduced by of The Kent State University Press. permission of The Kent State University Press.

I »

Fig. 10 (Romain) Plan view of the Serpent

SURVEY BY: WILLIAMF ROMAIN. WILLIAM GUSTIN.ANOT YH.PELL Mound showing how units of length equal to MAP BY: WILLIAM F ROMAIN AND JOHN E DAILEY SURVEY DATE: FEBRUARY 7-1. 1987 AMD A 30 times and 60 times the basic Hopewell unit GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: 39 01 33 H of length connect central points on the effigy. ELEVATION: 7SD-7B5 FEET ABOVE MEAN S A LIVEL After Romain 1988: Fig. 3. -.«.

1/4 SMU

1/2 SMU

35 ik TRUE » ASTRONOMICAL 5T7i—«-^SLZI^. T | 1 ! ! vwv^ "

\l 8Hu\

1 SMU ^N.

1* ' ^*\18MU

SERPENT MOUND STATE MEMOBIAr ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO/ '

MJRVIY Dill FMMUAAY I.* IM7 MtO MNtll^HMI. IK? •IOCAAFHIC COODOLNITES »1IU«II1 Bin GC04HHC COOMWATE1 SHUN • U'Htl V E1EMT10N luru FEET AUOVE UIAN Sit LEVIL ELEVATION l»WHir IKM •UHUl/lIK \ 1 SMU -.„«/ 1 SMU VL. '. ( \ V 1 •' ^^^-^ \ \ A SMU \ \ 1 SMU \

•v J /VT

y\^^vJ/y / ^ 1SMU

•3BT icr ^ # 3& •X F/g. 11 (Romain) Plan view of the Serpent Mound showing how units of Fig. 12 (Romain) Plan view of the Serpent Mound showing how units of length equal to 120 times the basic Hopewell unit of length connect length equal to 60 times the basic Hopewell unit of length connect central points on the effigy. After Romain 1988: Fig. 1. central points on the effigy. After Romain 1988: Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 (Romain) Schematic plan of the Newark Earth­ works, Observatory Circle-Octagon fea­ ture showing how units of length equal to 1,000 times the basic Hopewell unit of length define the dimensions of the earthwork. Redrawn and modified after Hively and Horn 1982: Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 (Romain) Schematic plan of part of the Newark Earthworks showing how the distances between the Observatory Circle and Fairground Circle and the Octagon and Square are each equal to about 6,000 times the basic Hopewell unit of length. Re­ drawn and modified after Hively and Horn 1982: Fig. 5.

36 y^y \4 Fig. 15 (Romain) Schematic plans showing how the diagonals of the Baum and Liberty Squares are equal to three times the radius of the Newark Observatory Circle. The radius of \ x* / the Newark Observatory Circle is equal to about 500 times the basic Hopewell unit of length; while the diagonals of the Baum and Liberty Squares are equal to about 1,500 times the basic Hopewell unit of length. NEWARK OBSERVATORY CIRCLE BAUM SQUARE LIBERTY SQUARE

Fig. 16 (Romain) Schematic plan of the High Bank Earthwork showing how units of length equal to about 1,000 and 2,000 times the basic Hopewell unit of length define the dimensions of the earthwork. Redrawn and modified after Hively and Horn 1984: Fig. 6.

Fig. 17 (Romain) Photograph showing how the basic Hopewell unit of length may be related to the length of the human arm and how the basic Hopewell unit of measure could have been used to lay out selected distances.

37 A SQUARE KNIFE FROM CLARK COUNTY by Hugh Schiller New Carlisle, Ohio

The square knife in Figures 1 and 2 was on the narrow end. Fine pressure retouch is References found by the author on April 16, 1983, in evident on all of the edges. Converse, Robert N. Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio. It is The flint sources for these knives and the 1973 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological made of black Upper Mercer flint, with occasional fluting on some of them, sug­ Society of Ohio. Columbus. quartz inclusions and is nearly 3 1/2" long gests for them to be dated from some­ Smith, Arthur George and 1 1/8" wide at it's mid-section. where between the late Paleo Complex 1959 "A Peculiar Knife Type". Ohio In Fig. 1, two flutes on each end can be and Early Archaic periods. Archaeologist, Vol. 9. No. 4, October seen extending towards the middle for al­ 1959 p. 140. Columbus. most 1". Fig. 2 shows three shorter flutes

Fig. 1 (Schiller) Obverse of Paleo square knife. Fig. 2 (Schiller) Reverse of Paleo knife.

38 TWO RICHLAND COUNTY BIRDSTONES by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio

The bar type birdstone shown in color In color plate Fig. 2 is a massive type pre-war construction of Charles Mill Lake plate Fig. 1 was a recent find in Richland bust birdstone made of lavender quartzite. east of Mansfield. County, Ohio. It is made of heavily pati- It was found by an engineer during the nated banded slate.

Fig. 1 (Converse) Recently found bar type birdstone from Richland County.

Fig. 2 (Converse) Bust type birdstone from Richland County.

39 TAPERED STEM BIFURCATES by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio

There are a number of bifurcated point styles. One of the minority types is the tapered stem variety. It has a short stem - less than 1/2 inch - and is weakly bifur­ cated. A minimal amount of basal grind­ ing is seen on some examples. The barbs are pronounced and often flared. Upper Mercer flint from the Coshocton deposits was used for most of them al­ though local cherts are not unusual. Flint Ridge flint, especially colorful material, is rare. Chipping treatment ranges from deli­ cate to haphazard - fine chipping seem­ ingly used only where necessary. These points are almost invariably made from a large flake or blade - the reverse of the point often showing remnants of the blade face. When viewed from the side there is often a distinct curvature which reflects the shape of the blade they were chipped from. Seldom are these points less than 2 inches in length or longer than 3 1/2 inches - a majority falling into the 2 1/2 inch to 2 3/4 inch range. Like other bifurcates, these undoubt­ edly date to the early Archaic, around 6,000 BC.

Reference Converse, Robert N. 1973 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological Society of Ohio, Columbus.

Fig. 1 (Converse) Eight Ohio tapered stem bifurcates.

40 CALENDRIC INFORMATION EVIDENT IN THE ADENA TABLETS by William F. Romain 4000 Westbrook Drive, #502 Brooklyn, Ohio 44144

In this paper, evidence is presented that faces, except for where they have been An early, detailed description of the the Adena Indians possessed detailed ob­ engraved or incised. These flat surfaces Cincinnati Tablet is provided by Squier and servational knowledge of celestial phe­ are well-suited for printing. Moreover, in Davis: nomena, including lunar events. This evi­ several instances, the tablets exhibit It measures five inches in length, three dence takes the form of calendric and brown or dark red stains (Webb and Baby in breadth at the ends, two and six astronomical information contained in the 1957:96-98). And, in the case of the tenths at the middle, and is about half engraved Adena tablets. Gaitskill Tablets, what may have been an inch in thickness. The sculptured In particular, I will present evidence that dried pigment was found within the face varies very slightly from a perfect the Cincinnati Tablet could have been used grooves of the tablets (Webb and Baby plane. The figures are cut in low relief, as a calendar - incorporating both solar 1957:96). (the lines being not more than one and lunar information. I believe the evi­ Finally, some of the tablets have long twentieth of an inch in depth,) and oc­ dence will also show other engraved Adena grooves on their reverse sides - suggesting cupy a rectangular space four inches tablets to contain similar information. And, I that the tablets could have been used to and two tenths long, by two and one will present evidence that the same method prepare or grind pigments - perhaps made tenth wide. The sides of the stone, it of recording calendric and celestial infor­ of red ochre, or graphite. It has also been will be observed, are slightly concave. mation found in the Adena tablets was also proposed that the grooves result from Right lines are drawn across the face used by the Hopewell in some of their cop­ sharpening bone awls used to tattoo the near the ends. At right angles and ex­ per cutouts. Lastly, information will be pre­ tablets' designs on the body. terior to these are notches, twenty-five sented which explains why the raptorial What has also remained somewhat at one end, and twenty-four at the bird motif exhibited in some of the Adena problematic is the meaning of the complex other. Extending diagonally inward are tablets is congruent with the proposed cal­ design motifs exhibited on the surfaces of fifteen longer lines, eight at one end endric content of the tablets. the tablets. and seven at the other. The back of the stone has three deep, longitudinal Background Webb and Baby (1957:100-101) point to grooves, and several depressions, evi­ There are a number of plain, unengraved the occurrence of raptorial bird motifs in­ dently caused by rubbing, - probably Adena tablets (see e.g., Dragoo 1959). corporated in the many of the tablets - produced in sharpening the instru­ However, only 14 engraved Adena tablets suggesting that since such birds feed on ment used in the sculpture (Squier and are known to exist (see Table 1). The sub­ dead flesh, they might have been consid­ Davis 1848:275). ject of this paper is the engraved tablets. ered agents of the spirit world and there­ Studies of the Adena tablets are made fore, revered by the Adena. Yet another description of the engraved difficult by the fact that several of the I agree with Webb and Baby's conclu­ lines on the tablet is provided by Skinner: tablets are maintained by different institu­ sion that raptorial bird motifs are depicted This slab . . . has number markings, tions, while others are in private collec­ in the tablets. And, for reasons which will distinct and clear. At the base . . . tions. Worse yet, the whereabouts of the be discussed later, such motifs would be there are 6 distinct spaces and 7 lines, Allen and Grave Creek Tablets are com­ congruent with the thesis that calendric the spaces being broad. Beneath this pletely unknown. and astronomical information is repre­ and on the edge of the stone are 23 In general though, the tablets are rect­ sented in the tablets. distinct, but small, spaces and 24 lines. The position of these 23 spaces angular in shape, and average between 3 The Cincinnati Tablet is such that groups of them seem to - 5 inches in length, 2-3 inches in width, In terms of calendric information, the be marked by the lines of the larger and about one-half inch in thickness. Cincinnati Tablet is the most explicit. The spacing, viz., 3, 7, 13, and 20. At the Most are made of sandstone. All of the tablet is pictured in Figure 1. top there are similar markings, viz., 7 tablets under discussion here are either It was discovered in 1841, in a burial spaces and 8 lines, and 24 small engraved in bas-relief or incised with vari­ mound located in downtown Cincinnati, spaces and 25 lines (Skinner 1885: ous designs and motifs. Ohio. The following report which was pub­ 239). An excellent summary of the particu­ lished in the American Pioneer, in 1843, lars relevant to the provenience for 13 of describes the discovery: As will become apparent, Squier and these tablets is presented by Penny A mound which once stood near the Davis' and Skinner's descriptions are im­ (1980); while Otto (1975) presents details junction of Main and Third Streets was portant - because they tell us that the relating to the Low Tablet. Very briefly necessarily removed to bring the number of engraved lines observed on though, the Adena tablets were found in streets to a convenient slope. . . . The the edges of the tablet in 1848 and 1885, various burial mounds generally at­ mound was about twenty-five feet corresponds to the number of engraved tributed to the Adena Indians - in Ohio, high. The engraving (Plate 1, p. 195) is lines evident when one examines the Kentucky, and West Virginia. The majority an exact representation of the tablet today. These engraved lines are were found in the 1800s or early 1900s - stone . . . taken from the mound in the basis for part of the calendric system so they have been known to archaeolo­ December 1841. .. . With this stone suggested herein. gists for quite some time. were found parts of a skeleton of a Specifically, the thesis presented here is What has remained problematic, how­ fullgrown human being, also two that three related units of time are refer­ ever, is the purpose of the tablets and the pointed bone implements about six enced in the Cincinnati Tablet. First, it is meaning of their engraved surfaces. Most inches long. There was no appearance proposed that the sun's summer and win­ often it is suggested that the tablets were of anything like a grave or vault where ter solstice rising and setting positions are used as stamps to print colored pigments these relics lay.... These, with several represented in the tablet. Next, successive on cloth, leather, or the human body. Indian flint arrow-stones, two stone repetitions of the four monthly phases of Certainly, Webb and Baby (1957) en­ axes, a piece of mica and a bead . . . the moon are depicted in such a way as to dorsed this interpretation. And in fact, were discovered by, and are in the add up to one year. Finally, a series of 13 there is some physical evidence to sup­ possession of Mr. Gridley of Long- lunations which is equal to one year is rep­ port this idea. More specifically, the worth Street (Anonymous 1843: 195- resented in the tablet. tablets generally have flat, smooth sur­ 196). Let us first consider the summer and winter solstices. At 39 degrees North lati-

41 tude, it happens that on the date of the number of complete lunar cycles separat­ was assumed, and the date used was A.D. summer solstice, the sun will rise at a point ing the winter solstice sunset from the 1. Rising and setting events were consid­ on the horizon that is 59.59 degrees east of summer solstice sunset is again, equal to ered to occur at the instant of the moon's north. In other words, the sun will rise at an six months. Hence, the spaces between lower limb tangency with the horizon. azimuth of 59.59 degrees. On this same the small engraved lines which are equal to Figures 11-14 show the lunar standstill date, the sun will set at a point on the hori­ lunar phases are read in a clockwise (or correspondences just discussed. zon at an azimuth of 300.41 degrees. sunwise) direction. The point here is that the Cincinnati Similarly, on the date of the winter solstice, Also read in a clockwise direction are the Tablet is not the only tablet to incorporate the sun will rise at a point on the horizon at larger spaces formed by the diagonal lines celestial data in its proportions. Indeed, of azimuth 121.94 degrees and it will set on immediately adjacent to the small en­ the 13 engraved Adena tablets examined, that same day at an azimuth of 238.05 de­ graved lines. As shown by Figure 5, there as many as 10 may demonstrate the pro­ grees. are six spaces between these large lines on portions required to convey solstice and/or These figures are derived from Aveni's the right side of the tablet, and seven such lunar standstill information. Again, this az- (1972) tables. These tables are entered by spaces on the left side of the tablet - for a imuthal information can only be presented interpolated latitude, horizon elevation, total of 13 spaces. if the tablets are of exactly the right propor­ date, and celestial event. For the purposes As the reader will recall, the solar year of tions in terms of length to width ratio. That of this study, a latitude of 39 degrees North 365 1/4 days is not exactly equivalent to an other tablets also incorporate astronomical latitude was used. (Cincinnati, Ohio, is lo­ even multiple of months, or lunar cycles. data argues against any suggestion that cated at about 39 08' North latitude.) A one Thus we have 12 months in a year - but we the Cincinnati Tablet's proportions are sim­ degree horizon elevation was assumed; have 13 new moons in a year. What I pro­ ply due to chance. and the date used was A.D. 1 (see Note 1). pose here is that the 13 large spaces on Paleolithic and Asiatic Antecedents Rising and setting events were considered the Cincinnati Tablet reflect an effort to co­ The second point in support of the inter­ to occur at the instant of the sun's lower ordinate, or reconcile the moon's phases pretation just offered for the Cincinnati limb tangency with the horizon. with the solar year. In other words, each of Tablet is the observation that marking lunar Figure 2 shows the angular relationships these 13 spaces represents one of the 13 phases by cutting notches into bone, just discussed. Surprisingly enough, these new moons or lunations, that make up one wood, or other materials is a fairly common angular relationships are further reflected in solar year. and very old tradition. the proportions of the Cincinnati Tablet. The explanation just presented for the Marshack (1972) has presented evi­ Figure 3 shows this correspondence. As Cincinnati Tablet is supported by several dence that calendars made by cutting tally can be seen, the tablet's upper right corner observations. marks, may date back to as early as the matches the sun's summer solstice rising Astronomical Data in Other Tablets Paleolithic period - about 30,000 years azimuth. The tablet's lower right corner First, it happens that a number of the en­ ago. Such evidence consists of bones, corresponds to the sun's winter solstice graved Adena tablets are of the same pro­ with cut notches, recovered from Paleo­ rising azimuth. The lower left corner portions as the Cincinnati Tablet - thus in­ lithic sites in France, and Czechoslovakia. matches the sun's winter solstice sunset. dicating that these particular proportions These cut notches appear to coincide with And, the upper left corner corresponds to were of special significance. That is not to the moon's new and full phases. the sun's summer solstice sunset. say that all of the tablets are the same size More recently, Marshack (1985) found a Importantly, the only way these azimuths - clearly they are not. Rather, at least three, similar notch notational system evident in a or angular relationships could possibly be and possibly as many as five of the tablets calendar stick used by the Winnebago expressed in tablet form is if the tablet were in addition to the Cincinnati Tablet may re­ Indians. to have precisely the proportions found in flect in their proportions, the azimuths of The point is that keeping track of time by the Cincinnati Tablet. Consideration of the the sun's summer and winter solstice posi­ notched notations as evidenced by the possible proportions of a rectangle as tions. Figures 5-9 illustrate this point. Cincinnati Tablet has both earlier and later shown in Figure 4, will demonstrate that It also happens that other engraved precedents. had the proportions of the Cincinnati Tablet Adena tablets reflect in their proportions, Also of potential relevance is Marshack's been any different, the solstices' angular the moon's maximum and minimum stand­ (1985:44) suggestion that the North relationships would not be reflected. still azimuths. American Indians' interest in solar, lunar, Next to be considered in connection with In connection with these standstills, per­ and calendric phenomena may have its the Cincinnati Tablet are the small, en­ haps the reader will find Hively and Horn's conceptual origins in the early shamanic graved lines on the edges of the tablet. explanation helpful: traditions that came into the Americas Central to the interpretation presented here The rising point of the Moon as from Asia. are the spaces between these small lines. marked along the horizon oscillates In connection with this idea, Marshack What I propose is that each of these between a northerly and southerly ex­ points out that the peoples of Asia gener­ spaces represents a particular phase of the treme during each sidereal month (27 ally reckon their year by lunar months. moon's monthly cycle. These four monthly 1/3 days). Due to a slow precession Throughout Asia, the month is divided into phases are: 1) the new moon; 2) the wax­ of the Moon's orbit, these extreme segments "involving the periods of waxing, ing moon (or first quarter); 3) the full moon; northerly and southerly rising points full, and waning" of the moon (Marshack and 4) the waning moon (or last quarter). oscillate between two fixed azimuths 1985:46). Further, according to Marshack, Starting at the upper left corner of the with a period of 18.61 years. A similar in Asia, the year is often divided into two Cincinnati Tablet, which corresponds to the variation occurs in the setting point of halves. summer solstice sunrise, if one counts the the Moon. ... A careful observer of Coincidentally enough, the Cincinnati spaces between the engraved lines as a lu­ the 18.6 year cycle would therefore Tablet not only indicates that the Adena nar phase, starting with the new moon notice eight significant directions people reckoned time by lunar phases, but closest to the summer solstice, it so hap­ along the horizon (four moonrise and that they too divided the year into two pens that the number of spaces as four moonset points) where the Moon halves. This conclusion seems indicated by counted around both sides of the tablet periodically reaches a maximum or the bipartite notational system evident in corresponds to the total number of lunar minimum extreme (Hively and Horn the Cincinnati Tablet - i.e., the right side of phases in a solar year comprised of 12 1982:S11-S12). the tablet counts the six months from sum­ months. Figure 3 illustrates this idea. The azimuths for these lunar standstill mer solstice to winter solstice; while the left Further, as shown by Figure 3, the num­ positions are shown in Figure 10. As was side of the tablet counts the six months ber of complete lunar cycles separating the the case for the sun, these azimuths were from winter solstice to summer solstice. summer solstice sunrise from the winter derived from Aveni's (1972) tables. Again The point here is that the calendar sys­ solstice sunrise is equal to six months. too, a latitude of 39 degrees North latitude tem and other astronomical information Similarly, on the left side of the tablet, the was used, a one degree horizon elevation evident in the Adena tablets is consistent

42 with Marshack's suggestion that the con­ Notably, some historic Indian groups soaring at great heights. Indeed, it often ceptual framework relating to such phe­ recognized 13 lunar months in their year soars on thermal updrafts to altitudes of nomena may indeed be part of the and too, many Indian groups such as the 4,000 - 5,000 feet, and has been observed shamanic traditions transmitted to the Haida, Navaho, Blackfoot, and Choctaw as high as 12,000 - 14,000 feet (Palmer Americas from Asia. divided their year into two seasons. 1984:Vol.4:37). Continuities with Hopewell The point here is that every feature evi­ The Turkey Vulture is best known, how­ Also supportive of the idea of calendric dent in the calendric system incorporated ever, for its unique food preferences. The information implicit in the Cincinnati Tablet in the Cincinnati Tablet has a corollary in Turkey Vulture is a carrion eater. In other is the observation that the Adena people historic Indian culture. words, it prefers dead, putrefying flesh. shared with the Hopewell people, an inter­ Vulture Symbolism and Seasonal This is because the bird has fairly weak est in celestial phenomena. (In general, the Migrations claws and beak - so it waits until the car­ cass is decayed and soft enough to easily Adena can be considered to have existed The final piece of evidence presented in tear into (see Palmer 1984:Vol. 4:38-39). from ca. 1,000 B.C. to A.D. 100; while the support of the thesis that calendric infor­ Hopewell existed from ca. 200 B.C. to A.D. mation is contained in the Adena tablets My identification of the Turkey Vulture as 500.) More specifically, there is increasing relates to the symbolism of the tablets. the raptorial bird that is represented in the evidence that the Hopewell possessed In their analysis of the engraved Adena Adena tablets is based on the following ob­ rather precise observational knowledge of tablets, Webb and Baby (1957) proposed servations. the sun's summer and winter solstice posi­ that most of the tablets present the motif of First, the Turkey Vulture has a rather tions, as well as the moon's major and mi­ a raptorial bird - in other words, a bird of long, forward thrusting beak which is nor standstill positions. In fact, it is likely prey. Indeed, Webb and Baby (1957:84) rounded and hooked (see Figure 21). Most that the Hopewell aligned their geometric identified raptorial bird elements for 8 of other birds, however, including hawks and earthworks to these celestial phenomena the 12 tablets they examined. Similarly, falcons, have proportionately shorter and (see Romain 1991). Further, there is evi­ Penny (1980) also found the raptorial bird less dramatically hooked beaks. In the dence that the Hopewell also incorporated motif present in a majority of the tablets. Adena tablets notice how the raptorial astronomical information in some of their And, my own analysis finds that bird ele­ birds portrayed therein have rather long, copper works of art - in much the same ments are present in 11 of the 14 tablets hooked beaks - resembling the Turkey way as the Adena did in their stone tablets. (see Table 1). In fact, I think most authori­ Vulture. For example, Figures 15, 16, and 17 ties will agree that raptorial bird elements Second, as noted by Terres (1980:957), show a copper plate and two copper are present in the majority of the tablets. one of the identifying characteristics of vul­ cutouts recovered from the Hopewell site, (Sometimes, these avian elements are tures is that their "eyes are prominent." while Figures 18 and 19 show drawings of highly stylized and may be difficult for the Certainly, the eyes of vultures are propor­ two copper cutouts from Mound City. unaccustomed viewer to recognize. In tionately more prominent than those of ea­ Notably, all five of these Hopewell artifacts such cases, reference should be made to gles, hawks, and falcons. In part, this is be­ seem to exhibit solstice or lunar standstill the reports of Webb and Baby (1957) and cause eagles, hawks, and falcons have a azimuth data in their designs. Penny (1980) which present detailed dis­ bony shield which partially shades their eyes (Terres 1980:957). In the Adena Anyway, the thesis that the Adena peo­ cussions of how the raptorial bird motif is tablets, notice how the eyes of the raptorial ple intentionally incorporated calendric and incorporated into specific tablets.) birds depicted therein are all rather large astronomical information into such objects Having said this, the next question is and strongly emphasized. as the Adena tablets is strengthened by the what species of bird is represented? Webb knowledge that the same information was and Baby (1957:100-101) mention two Lastly, it will be noted that the Turkey also possessed by other prehistoric peo­ possible candidates, i.e., the turkey buz­ Vulture can have either an even or rounded ples who were closely related to the zard and the carrion crow. As explained by tail - but this tail is comprised of "12 - 14 Adena, both spatially and temporally. Webb and Baby: quill feathers (rectrices)" (Terres 1980:957). Coincidentally enough, the tail segments Ethnohistoric Lunar Counts Before cremation of the bones by the Adena people, the skeletons of those for several of the raptorial bird designs Further support for the idea of calendric found in the Adena tablets have 12-14 information incorporated in the Cincinnati to be cremated had to be cleaned of the flesh. It is quite probable that they rounded lobes suggested here as repre­ Tablet is found in the observation that most senting feathers. historic Indian groups in North America had some system of "exposing" the bodies ... to allow partial decompo­ For example, the left side bird on the reckoned time by lunar counts. As Thomas Wilmington Tablet has a tail with 12 lobes. (1907-10:189) explained, "The most impor­ sition. . . . Evidence of the exposure method of preparing bodies for burial The Keifer Tablet has a tail segment with 13 tant time division to the Indians north of lobes (see Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 36). Mexico was the moon, or month, their is found in Adena in the disarticulated human parts . . . recovered from the The Wright Tablet has a design element count of this period beginning with the new that is probably a wing - but with 12 lobes moon." mound fill and burial pits.... If bodies to be cremated were thus (see Webb and Baby 1957:Fig. 38). And, The ethnographic literature is replete exposed ... it would seem certain the Gaitskill Clay Tablet has a tail segment with examples of ritual and subsistence ac­ that they would have attracted the with 12 lobes. tivities being keyed to a lunar calendar. carrion crow or other vultures. When considered together, I think the Among the Iroquois, for example, the great Because of their flesh-eating habits above points favor the Turkey Vulture as Midwinter Festival was begun on the fifth these birds might have come to be the likely bird featured in the Adena tablets. night after the first new moon subsequent respected by the people as agents What makes all of this discussion espe­ to the winter solstice (Fenton 1978:301). of the spirit world . . . (Webb and cially relevant is that in Ohio, the Turkey While among the Natchez, a feast was cel­ Baby 1957:100-101). Vulture is a migratory bird. In fact, in Ohio, ebrated at every new moon (DuPratz, For reasons to be discussed, my own the Turkey Vulture's migratory habits can be quoted in Swanton 1911:109). opinion is that the particular species repre­ considered a fairly good seasonal indicator. Indeed, as Cope explained: sented in the engraved Adena tablets is the In Ohio, the vulture's fall migration south All . . . tribes distinguish the different Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). This large, begins around September 15 - 25, with the phases of the moon. Among the North basically black, raptorial bird is well-known largest movements noted through October American Indians, the new moon usu­ throughout Ohio. And, when viewed in per­ 15. (Occasionally, it happens that some ally marks the first of the month, al­ son, the Turkey Vulture presents a rather vultures will winter here - particularly if the though the full moon is sometimes formidable appearance (see Figure 20). In weather is mild - but for the most part they used. The waxing and waning of the fact, the Turkey Vulture has a wingspan migrate south.) The vultures then return to moon were also noted (Cope 1919: that reaches to about six feet. The bird is Ohio, around March 1-12 (Peterjohn 129-130). particularly noted for its graceful, circular 1989:42-43). In Hinckley, Ohio, this return

43 of the Turkey Vultures is an annual event time congruent with the moon's phases; Canedy, Dana that is celebrated with great fanfare (see 5) they were aware that there are 13 luna­ 1989 It's Spring: The Buzzards Come Back. Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper for March 20,1989, Armao 1985:3a; Canedy 1989:1b; Sangia- tions in a solar year; and page 1 b. como 1990:4b). 6) they had detailed observational knowl­ Cope, Leona Certainly, the impressive size and de­ edge of the moon's 18.6 year cycle. 1919 Calendars of the Indians North of Mexico. meanor of the Turkey Vulture makes it the In any event, the Cincinnati Tablet is cer­ University of California Publications in American kind of animal whose seasonal migration tainly one of the oldest calendar devices Archaeology and Ethnology 16(4): 119-176. yet discovered north of Mexico. Moreover, Dragoo, Don W. patterns would be duly noticed in prehis­ 1959 An Unusual Cache of Adena Tablets. toric times just as they are today. the astronomical data evidenced in the Pennsylvania Archaeologist 29(3-4):134-144. Also of significance is that there are Cincinnati Tablet and the Adena tablets in Fenton, William N. many examples in the ethnographic litera­ general, further supports the idea that there 1978 Northern Iroquoian Culture Patterns. In ture of different aspects of various calen­ is a continuity of interest in celestial events Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 15, dars being associated with birds, bird mi­ and lunar phenomena in particular, extend­ Northeast, edited by Bruce G. Trigger. ing from Mississippian times back into Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. grations, and bird effigies. The Sioux, for Hall, Joseph J., and Ramer Y. Jones example, referred to March and April as early North American prehistory. 1949 The Great American Rosetta Stone.... MS on file the months when turkeys gobble; while In fact, the emerging picture of the Ohio at The Cincinnati Historical Society. among the Natchez, the eighth month was Mound Builders, is that they had a calen­ Hively, Ray, and Robert Horn when the turkey comes out of the woods dar system based on the movements of 1982 Geometry and Astronomy in Prehistoric Ohio. into open fields to feed on seeds (Swanton the sun and moon; a standard or basic unit Archaeoastronomy 4:S1 -S20. (Supplement to Vol. 13, Journal for the History of Astronomy.) 1946:259,261). of measurement possibly based on the Marshack, Alexander Elsewhere in the literature, Stocker length of the human arm; and, at least in 1985 A Lunar-Solar Year Calendar Stick from North (1981) suggests the possible correlation of the case of the Hopewell, they aligned their America. American Antiquity 50(1):27-51. bird migrations with various prehistoric bird sacred sites to significant celestial events. 1972 The Roots of Civilization. McGraw-Hill, New York. Moorehead, Warren K. effigies, and Tedlock (1985) provides infor­ Notes 1922 The Hopewell Mound Group of Ohio. Field mation showing how seasonal hawk migra­ The rising and setting points for the sun Museum of Natural History, Publication 211. tions help Mesoamerican Indians time their and moon change at relatively small incre­ Anthropological Series Vol. VI, No. 5. agricultural practices. ments in response to changes in latitude Otto, Martha Potter 1975 A New Engraved Adena Tablet Identified. Echoes Perhaps then, in addition to its associa­ and date. A change in one full degree of tion with the dead and the spirit world, the 14(11): 1-2. latitude, for example, results in a change in Palmer, Ralph S. (editor) Turkey Vulture was pictured on the Adena rising or setting azimuth for the sun or 1983 Handbook of North American Birds. 4 vols. Yale tablets in order to further emphasize the moon of less than one-half of one degree. University Press, New Haven. tablets' calendric significance. When the (For comparative purposes, consider that Penny, David W. symbolism of the migratory Turkey Vulture the north-south separation between 1980 The Adena Engraved Tablets: A Study of Art Prehistory. Mid-Continental Journal of is combined with the physical proportions Cincinnati, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio, is of the tablets - which correspond to the Archaeology 5(1):3-38. slightly less than one degree of latitude.) Romain, William F. azimuths of cyclical solar and lunar events, Given that the Adena tablets were all found 1991 Possible Astronomical Alignments at Hopewell the result is a powerful statement of the within such a one degree spread (see Sites in Ohio. Ohio Archaeologist in press. calendric relevance of the tablets. Penny 1980:Fig. 1), differences in azimuth Sangiacomo, Michael as a function of where each tablet was ac­ 1990 Buzzards Return to Hinckley; 37 Sighted Summary Yesterday. Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper for In summary, it was proposed that of the tually found as compared to the assumed March 16,1990, page 4b. 14 known engraved Adena tablets, calen­ latitude should be negligible for all practical Skinner, J. Ralston dric information in the way of solstice and purposes. 1886-87 The Identification of the British Inch as the Unit lunar standstill positional data may be evi­ Similarly, over the course of a thousand of Measure of the Mound Builders of the Ohio Valley. Journal of the Cincinnati Society of dent in 10 tablets. More specifically, as years, the sun's rising and setting posi­ Natural History IX:115-127,142-162, 231 -243. many as six tablets may incorporate the tions on the horizon change by less than Squier, Ephraim G., and Edwin H. Davis sun's summer and winter solstice azimuths; two tenths of one degree in azimuth. 1848 Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. while four tablets incorporate the moon's Differences then in azimuth as a function Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. 1. major and minor standstill azimuths. of when each tablet was made as com­ Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. pared to the assumed date should also be Stocker, Terry Evidence was also presented that the 1981 A Note on Eastern U.S. Site Orientations. Cincinnati Tablet uses a notational system negligible for all practical purposes. Archaeoastronomy 4(3): 24- 29 . based on a lunar count - to reckon time be­ For a further discussion of these matters Swanton, John R. tween summer and winter solstice events. the reader is referred to Romain (1991). 1946 The Indians of the Southeastern United States. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 137. This notational system seems to have been Acknowledgements referenced to the phases of the moon - i.e., Washington, D. C. I owe an intellectual debt to Joseph J. 1911 Indian Tribes of the Lower Mississippi Valley new moon, waxing moon, full moon, and Hall and Ramer Y. Jones, who years ago, and Adjacent Coast of the Gulf of Mexico. waning moon. The Cincinnati Tablet also suggested that solstice positions may be Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 43. seems to incorporate in notational form, evidenced in the Cincinnati Tablet. Washington, D.C. recognition of the fact that there are 13 lu­ Tedlock, Barbara I would also like to thank The Cincinnati nations in a typical solar year. Finally, it was 1985 Hawks, Meteorology and Astronomy in Quiche- Historical Society for permission to repro­ suggested that the calendric interpretation Maya Agriculture. Archaeoastronomy. 8(1 -4):80- duce their photograph of the Cincinnati 88. just offered is strengthened by the symbolic Tablet. Thomas, Cyrus representation of the Turkey Vulture in the And, thanks are extended to The Ohio 1907-10 Calendar. In Handbook of American Indians Adena tablets - and that animal's well- Historical Society for permission to repro­ North of Mexico, Part 1, edited by Frederick W. known seasonal migration patterns. Hodge. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin duce Webb and Baby's drawings. 30. Washington, D.C. Viewed from a wider perspective, I think Webb, William S., and Raymond Baby the preceding analysis of the Adena tablets References Anonymous 1957 The Adena People - No. 2. The Ohio Historical supports the following conclusions: 1843 American Pioneer 2:195-197. Society, Columbus. , 1) the Adena people recognized the sol­ Armao, Rosemary stices as a way of reckoning time; 1985 Begin Buzzard Blowout: Guests of Honor are 2) they divided the year into two series - a Here. Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper for summer and winter count; March 16,1985, page 3a Aveni, Anthony 3) they started their year at the summer 1972 Astronomical Tables Intended for Use in solstice; Astroarchaeological Studies. American Antiquity 4) they divided the month into periods of 37(4):531-540.

44 Tablet Celestial Event Bird Motif Tablet Celestial Event Bird Motif Tablet Celestial Event Bird Motif Cincinnati solstices yes Gaitskill Clay solstices? yes Wright (see Note A) yes + lunar phases Wilmington lunar maximums yes Keif er (see Note A) — yes Meigs solstices yes Waverly lunar maximums yes Lakin A — yes Berlin solstices yes Lakin B lunar minimums yes Grave Creek N/A N/A Low solstices yes Gaitskill Stone lunar minimums — (see Note B) Allen solstices? — Notes A) Only partial fragments of the Wright and Keifer Tablets are extant - so they have not been analyzed for astronomical correlations. B) Unfortunately, the location of the Allen and Grave Creek Tablets is not known. Drawings and at least one photograph of the Allen Tablet do exist. However, no photographs of the Grave Creek Tablet are known to the author. The only drawings of the Grave Creek Tablet differ to such an extent that it is really not clear what the tablet looks like - or what its dimensions are. No analysis has been made therefore of the Grave Creek Tablet. 7a5/e 1. (Romain) Engraved Adena Tablets and Selected Associations.

Fig. 2 (Romain) Solstice azimuths for 39 degrees North latitude, one degree horizon Fig. 1 (Romain) Photograph of the Cincinnati Tablet. Courtesy of The Cincinnati Historical Society. elevation, A.D. 1, lower limb tangency.

SUMMER SUMMER SOLSTICE SOLSTICE SUNSET SUNRISE 300°.41 59°.59

WINTER SOLSTICE WINTER SUNSET SOLSTICE 238°-05 SUNRISE O NEW MOON • FULL MOON 121°.94 •3 FIRST QUARTER C LAST QUARTER

Fig. 3 (Romain) Solstice azimuths and lunar notation system evident in the Cincinnati Tablet.

45 SUMMER SUMMER SOLSTICE -^. r*• SOLSTICE SUNSET ^ SUNRISE SUMMER 300°.4i 59°.59 SOLSTICE SUNSET 300°.41

WINTER > k. WINTER SOLSTICE ^ SOLSTICE SUNSET SUNRISE 238".05 121°.94

Fig. 4 (Romain) Line drawing of a rectangle showing possible proportions as compared to the proportions of the Cincinnati Tablet. Fig. 5 (Romain) Meigs County Tablet showing solstice azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 35. Reproduced by permission of The Ohio Historical Society.

WINTER WINTER SOLSTICE SOLSTICE SUNRISE SUNSE r 121°.94 238°.05

Fig. 6 (Romain) Berlin Tablet showing solstice azimuths. Redrawn after Fig. 7 (Romain) Low Tablet showing solstice azimuths. Redrawn after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 33. Otto 1975: frontispiece.

NORTH

Fig. 8 (Romain) Allen Tablet possibly showing solstice azimuths. Fig. 9 (Romain) Gaitskill Clay Tablet possibly showing solstice azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 31. Reproduced by permission Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 40. Reproduced by permission of The Ohio Historical Society. of The Ohio Historical Society.

46 Fig. 10 (Romain) Maximum and minimum lunar standstill azimuths for 39 degrees North latitude, one degree horizon elevation, A.D. 1, lower limb tangency.

NORTH MOON MAX MOON MAX NORTH SET NORTH RISE 306°.85 53°.35 MOON MAX MOON MAX NORTH SET .. ^ NORTH RISE 306°.65 >t Jf 53°-35 t?Tfir (p^

• X ^^ i »^—— *1 H» /I V. '

X, MOON MAX MOON MAX MOON MAX MOON MAxV^ SOUTH RISE SOUTH SET SOUTH RISE SOUTH SET 229°.72 130°.27 229°.72 130°.27

Fig. 11 (Romain) Wilmington Tablet showing lunar maximum standstill Fig. 12 (Romain) Waverly Tablet showing lunar maximum standstill azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 34. Reproduced by azimuths. Redrawn after Penny 1980: Fig. 5. permission of The Ohio Historical Society.

NORTH NORTH MOON MIN NORTH NORTH NORTH SET „ MOON MIN 292°.B3 ^ ^ NORTH RISE MOON MIN ^ 67°.36 MOON MIN NORTH SET >w , NORTH RISE 292°.63 ^ ^ 67°.36 •' 1 K*J nn$ 5i •«<^j m 1m O". ^ ^ ^< MOON MIN "N^. MOON MIN MOON MIN ** 'fik MOON MIN SOUTH SET ' ill SOUTH RISE SOUTH SET SOUTH RISE 244°.23 115°.77 244°.23 US'.11

Fig. 13 (Romain) Lakin B Tablet showing lunar minimum standstill Fig. 14 (Romain) Gaitskill Stone Tablet showing lunar minimum standstill azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 42. Reproduced by azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 32. Reproduced by permission of The Ohio Historical Society. permission of The Ohio Historical Society.

47 MOON MAX MOON MAX NORTH SET NORTH RISE

MOON MIN NOlilH SET 292'63

MOON MIN MOON MAX MOON MAX SOUTH SET SOUTH SET SOUTH RISE 229°.72 130°. 27

Fig. 15 (Romain) Copper plate from the Hopewell site showing lunar Fig. 16 (Romain) Copper cutout from the Hopewell site showing lunar minimum standstill azimuths. After Moorehead 1922: P1.LXXXI. maximum standstill azimuths. After Moorehead 1922: P1.LXV.

NORTH

SUMMER .sddRfc. *J^^^. SIIMMI R SOLSTICI „ viflB 06 Wx -. SOI STICI SUNSET >^ JimU V Wt Hk S* SUNRISE 300°.4i ^v^ •"i''Mjlr ^M W"^ 59°.59

WINTER Jr IR. W >< WINTER SOLSTICE ^W JM Wr SOLSTICE SUNSET " " • um •^ SUNRISE 121°.94 238°.05 Fig. 18 (Romain) Line drawing of copper breastplate from Mound City showing solstice azimuths - note how these lines just touch the beaks of what are probably representations of the Turkey Vulture. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 49. Reproduced by permission of The Ohio Fig. 17 (Romain) Copper cutout from the Hopewell site showing solstice Historical Society. azimuths. After Moorehead 1922: P1.LXV.

MOON MAX MOON MAX SOUTH SET SOUTH RISE 229°.72 130°.27

Fig. 19 (Romain) Line drawing of copper cutout from Mound City showing lunar maximum standstill azimuths. Modified after Webb and Baby 1957: Fig. 47. Reproduced by permission of The Ohio Historical Society. Fig. 20 (Romain) Photograph of a Fig. 21 (Romain) Closeup Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). photograph of a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). Notice the curved and rounded beak.

48 HEARTBREAKERS by Chris Rummel 528 Michael Ave. Westerville, Ohio 43081

For some, 1991 was one of the worst made of gray Coshocton flint. I know of from the stemmed lanceolate (Fig. 2). The years to look for Indian artifacts because two other fluted points that have been piece is highly polished, and only the bit there was little rainfall to expose any­ found in this field. is broken on this 3 inch piece. The mate­ thing. I feel fortunate, because I was able The second piece is the base of a rial is brown and tan granite. to pick up a total of 222 artifacts from dovetail. It is made of white chalcedony The plummet was found in the same March until August. Many of these pieces and was found in a corn field on the area as the bevel (Fig. 1) about ten days were broken, but some were my finest premises of the college I attend. apart. This piece is made of black pieces. The third artifact is the base of a hematite, and it was disappointing to find A number of these broken pieces I stemmed lanceolate. I found this in a it broken. would consider "heartbreakers," because field I just started hunting this year, and it Figure 4 shows all of the points de­ had they been whole, they would have is made of a dark amber Flint Ridge scribed as well as a fluted point and side- been very nice artifacts. which is partially translucent when held notched point, both from the same field The piece I consider to be the finest I up to the light. in Licking County, Ohio, found on the have personally found is the Archaic The final artifact is the base section of same day. bevel (Fig. 1). It is made from a cream a Ross County point. I believe the mate­ colored Flint Ridge with blue and swirls rial used for this piece was white chal­ REFERENCES and was found in Knox County, Ohio. cedony, and it was found in the same Converse, Robert N. The bevel measures 3 inches in length field as the bevel (Fig. 1), the fluted point 1966 "Ohio Stone Tools" Ohio Archaeologist, and is missing just a little of the right (Fig. 2) and the hematite plummet (Fig. 3). Vol. 16, No. 4. barb. The two pieces in figure 3 were surpris­ 1970 Ohio Flint Types. Archaeological Society The artifacts in figure 2 are also from ing finds for me. The miniature 3/4 of Ohio. Knox County, Ohio. Going clockwise, the grooved axe was found on the same day, 1971 Ohio Slate Types. Archaeological Society first artifact is the base of a fluted point in the same field, about five yards away of Ohio.

Fig. 1 (Rummel) Beveled point.

Fig. 2 (Rummel) Paleo points and dovetail.

Fig. 3 (Rummel) Miniature axe and plu Fig. 4 (Rummel) All artifacts.

49 MOUNDS VS. PEOPLE: THE CAPITOLIUM CASE by Thomas C. Grubb 1017 Newark Rd. Mount Vernon, Ohio

How many prehistoric Indian burial ging and screening proceeded foot by treated after legitimate reasons are estab­ mounds have survived the white man's foot until it was evident that the bottom of lished for their partial or complete destruc­ invasion of Ohio? The writer recently re­ the mound had been reached. It was tion and how the excavation must be ported (Grubb) that some 70% of the soon obvious that a large amount of soil closely supervised by an experienced ar­ mounds found by Mills in 1914 in Knox had been added to the top of the mound chaeologist, with all artifacts being accu­ county were still visible. Recently a valiant in 1915, which was followed by alternate rately located, identified, labeled and cu- effort was made by the citizens of layers of sand and gravel brought by the rated. Marietta, Ohio to prevent the destruction Indians from the nearby river banks. While of one of its mounds, long called no burials were found, many pieces of un­ Acknowledgments "Capitolium" for justifiable reasons. In equivocally Hopewell shell-tempered pot­ The writer is especially indebted to 1915 the City Council had given its per­ tery were collected. A single Adena pro­ Wesley S. Clarke for supplying the head­ mission to build a library on top of one of jectile point was found in one of the lines from The Marietta Times and pho­ its mounds in the city, provided no further gravel layers but it was concluded that it tographs of the Capitolium excavation. destruction of the mound took place. had been carried in with the gravel from a Now the Library Board of Trustees wished nearby pit. References to build a ramp and an elevator along In her lecture to a recent Ohio Archae­ Greber, N'omi side of the building for handicapped peo­ ology Society meeting (Greber 1991) Dr. 1991 Ohio Archaeology meeting, Columbus, ple. At first the City Council rejected the Greber stressed the fact that although she Ohio. March 17,1991 idea and a considerable amount of con­ had excavated only three percent of the Griffin, James flict between the City Council and The total mound, it was sufficient to identify 1990 Personal communication. Aug. 6,1990. Library Board of Trustees was generated the builders beyond question. With the Grubb, Thomas C. as reflected in the headlines of The planned termination of the excavation, the 1991 Prehistoric Indian Mounds in Knox Marietta Times (Fig. 1). Library Board began construction of the County. Ohio Archaeologist. 41(1);29. The problem was ultimately solved in a elevator and ramp in the excavated area. logical and intelligent manner by employ­ The Capitolium experience illustrates ing Dr. N'omi Greber of the Cleveland how Ohio prehistoric mounds should be Museum of Natural History to evaluate fur­ ther destruction of the mound, there being some doubt not only that it was a burial mound but also professional archaeolo­ gists had argued for years whether it was built by Adena or Ft. Ancient people. It seems that Capitolium has a flat top in­ stead of a conical one which the Hopewell people usually built. Had some early farmer unknowingly shaved off the top of a Hopewell mound or had Ft. Ancient people meant it to have a flat top? Although it was commonly thought that Dr. James Griffin, nationally known profes­ sor of archaeology at the University of Michigan, had given the impression that it was a Ft. Ancient structure, he recently stated (Griffin 1990) "I never came out flat with the statement that any of the Marietta mounds were Ft. Ancient." Since both Hopewell and Ft. Ancient artifacts have been found in the vicinity of the mounds they did not provide a reliable clue to the mound builders identity. The need for excavating next to the li­ brary was to add a ramp and elevator for handicapped people. The first step was to determine if the soil could bear the weight of the construction, and was de­ termined by drilling holes 10 to 40 feet deep. In addition, Dr. Greber took succes­ sive one inch core samples which were transported to the museum for further study. The excavation was carried out by students from Marietta College and vol­ unteers from Ohio and West Virginia. Under the watchful eye of Dr. Greber, dig- Fig. 1 (Grubb) Headlines from The Marietta Times (1990-1991).

50 The Society for American Archaeological Announces AN ARCHAEOLOGY ESSAY CONTEST Eligible Contestants: Announcement of Winners: Awards for Sponsoring Teachers of Eighth grade students are invited to par­ The top three winners and sponsoring Winning Students: ticipate. teachers of these winners will be notified • Book: "Peoples and Places of the Past: Theme: by mail prior to March 23,1992. The National Geographic Illustrated Each essay should focus on "why it is Awards to Winners: Cultural Atlas of the Ancient World" important to protect archaeological Awards will be presented at the Hilton Awards for Schools of Winning sites." Towers Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Students: Content: on Saturday, April 11, 1992 during the • Plaque indicating the winning student's In this essay the student should de­ Society for American Archaeology's and sponsoring teacher's name and scribe what an archaeological site is; Public Session. school. what we can learn by investigating ar­ Awards for Students: Deadline for Sponsoring Teachers to chaeological sites; why archaeological First Prize: Send Entries to Judging Committee: sites should be protected; and how stu­ • Review of essay by Archaeology Maga­ Entries must be postmarked on or be­ dents can help protect archaeological fore February 8, 1992. sites. zine lor possible publication • One-year subscriptions to Archaeology Send Entries with Entry Form to: Length: Magazine and National Geographic SAA Essay Contest The length may be 250 words or less. c/o Ohio Historic Preservation Office • Book: "Protecting the Past" Appearance: 1982 Velma Avenue Each essay must be neatly handwritten • Book: National Geographic's "America's Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 in ink. At the top of the first page must Ancient Cities" (614)297-2470 be the following: Student's Name, Second Prize: Address, and Telephone; Sponsoring • One-year subscriptions to Archaeology Teacher's Name and School's Name, Magazine and National Geographic Address and Telephone Third Prize: Judging Criteria: Students will be judged on originality, • One-year subscription to Archaeology understanding of archaeological ethics, Magazine and creative approach to site protection.

INFORMATION NEEDED I am doing a paper on the prehistoric cultures of Knox County, Ohio and their mounds, enclosures and habitation sites, and would appreciate any information that would help me. I am looking for information and/or ar­ ticles pertaining to mounds, enclosures and habitation sites and their locations, existing or destroyed. Please send any information to: Chris Rummel M.V.N.C. Box 14-2609 Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

Back Cover THE MOUND CITY FLYING EAGLE by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio During his Mound City excavation shortly effigies was found in Mound #7 in 1921. It Study of the markings on this outstand­ after WW I, William C. Mills discovered a is 12 1/2 inches long and 8 inches wide. ing work of art by ornithologists have de­ series of copper plates representing rapto­ Done in repousse, a technique by which termined that the bird portrayed is a pere­ rial birds. These plates, some highly con­ the thin copper sheet was incised by a grine falcon. ventionalized, were described as eagles al­ sharp bone or antler, it portrays a flying bird Photograph courtesy of National Park though they could have been any one of a of prey. Two perforations in the lower cen­ Service. number of such birds. ter were probably used to attach it to the One of the most realistically fashioned clothing of an important Hopewell leader.

51 OBJECT OF THE SOCIETY The Archaeological Society of Ohio is organized to discover and conserve archaeological sites and material within the State of Ohio, to seek and promote a better understanding among students and collectors of archaeological material, professional and non-professional, including individuals, museums, and institutions of learning and to disseminate knowledge on the subject of archaeology. Membership in the society shall be open to any person of good character interested in archaeology or the collecting of American Indian artifacts, upon acceptance of written application and payment of dues.