OHIO ARCHAEOLOGIST VOLUME 42 NO. 4 FALL 1992
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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. EXPIRES A.S.O. OFFICERS Subscription to the Ohio Archaeologist, published quarterly, is included President Larry L. Morris, 901 Evening Star Avenue SE, East in the membership dues. The Archaeological Society of Ohio is an Canton, OH 44730, (216) 488-1640 incorporated non-profit organization. Vice President Stephen J. Parker, 1859 Frank Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130, (614) 653-6642 BACK ISSUES Exec. Sect. Donald A. Casto, 138 Ann Court, Lancaster, OH 43130, (614)653-9477 Publications and back issues of the Ohio Archaeologist: Recording Sect. Nancy E. Morris, 901 Evening Star Avenue Ohio Flint Types, by Robert N. Converse $10.00 SE, East Canton, OH 44730, (216) 488-1640 Ohio Stone Tools, by Robert N. Converse $ 8.00 Ohio Slate Types, by Robert N. Converse $15.00 Treasurer Don F. Potter, 1391 Hootman Drive, Reynoldsburg, The Glacial Kame Indians, by Robert N. Converse $20.00 OH 43068, (614)861-0673 Back issues—black and white—each $ 6.00 Editor Robert N. Converse, 199 Converse Dr., Plain City, OH Back issues—four full color plates—each $ 6.00 43064,(614)873-5471 Back issues of the Ohio Archaeologist printed prior to 1964 are Immediate Past Pres. James G. Hovan, 16979 South generally out of print but copies are available from time to time. Write Meadow Circle, Strongsville, OH 44136, (216) 238-1799 to business office for prices and availability.
BUSINESS MANAGER ASO CHAPTERS Paul Wildermuth, 5210 Coonpath Road NE, Pleasantville, OH Aboriginal Explorers Club 43148, (614) 536-7855 or (800) 736-7815. President: John M. Rose, R.D. #1, Box 12, Chester, WV Beau Fleuve Chapter TRUSTEES President: John C. McKendry, 5545 Trescott Terrace, Lakeview, NY 1994 Martha Otto, Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Ave., Blue Jacket Chapter Columbus, OH 43211, (614) 297)-2641 (work) President: Jacque Stahler, Box 85, DeGraff, OH 1994 Don Gehlbach, 3435 Sciotangy Drive, Columbus, OH 43221, Cuyahoga Valley Chapter (614)459-0808 President: Jay Elias, 1780 A Treetop Trail, Akron, OH 1994 Stephen J. Parker - Will be replaced by Board on 8/30/92 Flint Ridge Chapter 1994 S. A. (Joe) Redick, 35 West Riverglen Drive, Worthington, OH President: Joe Kinser, 397 Tigre Dr., Newark, OH 43085,(614)885-0449 Fort Salem Chapter 1996 Walter J. Sperry, 6910 Range Line Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH President: Brent Weber, 1455 Bethel - N.R. Rd., New Richmond, OH 43050,(614)393-2314 Johnny Appleseed Chapter 1996 Charles Fulk, 2122 Cottage St., Ashland, OH 44805 President: Charles Fulk, 2122 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH (419)347-4517 King Beaver Chapter 1996 Carmel (Bud) Tackett, 906 Charleston Park., Chillicothe, OH President: Judith Storti, R.D. #2, Box 1519 Herrick St., New Castle, PA 45601,(614)772-5431 Lake County Chapter 1996 James F. Hahn, 770 S. Second St., Heath, OH 43056, President: William M. King, 9735 Ridgeview Trail, Mentor, OH (614)323-2351 Lower Ohio River Valley Basin Chapter 1996 Carl Szafranski, 6106 Ryan Road, Medina, OH 44256, (216) President: Sherry Peck, 598 Harvey Rd., Patriot, OH 723-7122 Miamiville Archaeological Conservation Chapter President: Raymond Lovins, P.O. Box 86, Miamiville, OH REGIONAL COLLABORATORS Mound City Chapter David W. Kuhn, 2103 Grandview Ave., Portsmouth, OH 45662 President: Carmel "Bud" Tackett, 906 Charleston Pk„ Chillicothe, OH Mark W. Long, Box 467, Wellston, OH North Coast Chapter Steven Kelley, Seaman, OH President: Robert W. McGreevey, 24687 Tara-Lynn Dr., N. Olmstead, OH William Tiell, 13435 Lake Ave., Lakewood, OH James L. Murphy, University Libraries, 1858 Neil Avenue Mall, Painted Post Chapter President: Don Baker, 2011 Greenvill Rd., Bristolville, OH Columbus, OH 43210 Gordon Hart, 760 N. Main St., Bluffton, Indiana 46714 Sandusky Bay Chapter President: George B. DeMuth, 4303 Nash Rd., Wakeman, OH David J. Snyder, P.O. Box 388, Luckey, OH 43443 Dr. Phillip R. Shriver, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Sandusky Valley Chapter Brian Da Re, 58561 Sharon Blvd., Rayland, OH 43943 President: Jim Lightener, 613 N. Detroit, Kenton, OH Jeff Carskadden, 960 Eastward Circle, Colony North, Seneca Arrow Hunters Zanesville, OH 43701 President: Donald Weller, Jr., 3232 S. State Rt. 53, Tiffin, OH Six River Valley Chapter All articles, reviews, and comments regarding the Ohio Archaeologist President: Dr. Brian G. Foltz, 6566 Charles Rd., Westerville, OH should be sent to the Editor. Memberships, requests for back issues, Standing Stone Chapter changes of address, and other inquiries should be sent to the Busi President: Jim Dutcher, P.O. Box 202, Millersport, OH ness Manager. Sugarcreek Valley Chapter President: Garry L. Summers, 8170 Sharon N.W., N. Canton, OH PLEASE NOTIFY THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF ADDRESS CHANGES IMMEDIATELY SINCE, BY POSTAL REGULATIONS, Plum Run Chapter President: Scott Schrecengost, 236 East Ohio Ave., Sebring, OH SOCIETY MAIL CANNOT BE FORWARDED. NEW BUSINESS OFFICE PHONE NUMBER 1-800-736-7815 TOLL FREE TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT'S PAGE A Large Steatite Bowl by Al Wakefield 4 On August 30th the Board of Directors met to address several A Unique Axe from Scotland County, Missouri issues, one of which was the financial state of the Society. Don by Dale Roberts 5 Potter, Treasurer, reported his projection that we would finish the year with no carry-over or a small deficit. After a long discussion, Bannerstones by Bill Cain 6 the issue was reduced to: Do we cut costs? Do we begin to dip Two Dovetails from Perry Co., Ohio by Jim Hahn 7 into the reserves of the Society? Or, do we increase income? Earliest Medicines in Ohio by Carl B. Dunn 8 The largest expenditure of the Society is the Ohio Archae Two Boatstones by Gary Fogelman 10 ologist (51 %). This publication is the backbone of the Society Birdstone Found in Darke County by Ronnie Thiebeau 11 and a point of pride for all our members so there was little enthu Archaic Bevels from the Ron Helman Collection siasm for cutting back on the magazine. We then looked at the balance of the budget and after removing the fixed costs, there by Robert N. Converse 12 was little left that could be reduced. The next issue the board ad Patination: A Poor Determinant of Age by Wm Jack Hranicky ... 13 dressed was the cost of other printing. We have in the last three The Barlow Site: Second Report by Wayne A. Mortine 16 years incurred large costs for reprinting our publications. It was An Overview of Western Basin Late Woodland Occupations noted that this was an investment that would in the future bring at the Foot of the Lower Rapids of the Sandusky River revenue to the Society; however, the profits from these sales by Jonathan E. Bowen 20 were being consumed by our annual expenses.lt was decided An Early Fort Meigs Phase Food Processing Feature from that in these uncertain times it would not be prudent to spend 33SA8 at the Lower Rapids of the Sandusky River the reserves of the Society. Therefore, it was necessary to in by Jonathan E. Bowen 24 crease the price of our publications, begin to charge postage Delaware Chert by Robert N. Converse 26 and handling, and increase the dues of the Society. I feel it was Midewiwin: A Chippewa Ceremony by Elaine Holzapfel 27 prudent to address this issue before the Society was in financial Mitigation of the Brady Run Rockshelter 3: trouble and to leave the reserves intact for the future. A Multi-Component Site in Washington Township, It was also my pleasure to appoint, with the full approval of the Lawrence County, Ohio by Flora Church 32 Board, Carl Szafranski to fill the unexpired trustee term of Steve Mount Pleasant II -The Sequel by Stephen J. Parker 36 Parker, our Vice-President. I would also like to thank the Board for their 100% attendance and participation at this meeting. A Cylindrical Pestle from Darke County by Elaine Holzapfel 38 In October the West Virginia State Supreme Court upheld the An Outstanding Adean Spear by Robert N. Converse 39 decision of the lower court regarding the challenge mounted to An Adena Tubular Pipe by Robert N. Converse 40 the Cotiga Mound Agreement. The only recourse left in West Adenas by Richard Ward 41 Virginia is to change the recently enacted legislation that made Azimuths to the Otherworld: Astronomical Alignments of such an agreement possible. We wish the avocational and pro Hopewell Charnel Houses fessional archaeologists great success in their efforts to restore by William F. Romain 42 archaeology in West Virginia. A Flint Ridge Dovetail by Bill Likens 49 We have just finished a great slate of summer meetings. The Personal Field Finds of 1992 by Jennifer A. Saksa 49 chapters who hosted the meetings did an outstanding job! My wife Nancy and I enjoyed each one. See you at the meetings. Letters to the Governor 50 "Participate in Archaeology" Brochure Available Free Larry L. Morris Public Can Learn About Ways to Get Involved 51 ACPAC NEWSLETTER "The Hate-Archaeology Virus Spreads to Ohio" 51
Front Cover: Early historic silver from the collection of Steve Fuller, Wooster, Ohio. Upper left - circular gorget engraved with what may be an otter or a beaver. Upper right is a gorget from Ontario, Canada. The small bracelet was found near Fort Recovery, Ohio. The large bracelet was made by Robert Cruikshank of Montreal, one of the more famous early engravers. The cross was made by Charles Arnold of Montreal and was found near Manchester, Indiana. The small brooch is from New York State and has had Indian engraving added to it.
3 A LARGE STEATITE BOWL by Al Wakefield 4151 Logansgate Apt. 151 Youngstown, OH 44505
The steatite bowl in figure 1 was found Sherds of a similar bowl were found stone, often called soapstone, was possi in a swampy area south of Erie, Penn nearby in Ashtabula County, Ohio, by bly quarried in eastern Pennsylvania. sylvania. It is the largest example known; John Zakucia in the Pymatuning Swamp Although the uses which prehistoric most are about V, the size of this one. The before the Pymatuning Dam was built. man made of this type of container are measurements are as follows: Although smaller, it would have been not known, we can speculate that cook about the same shape as the one pic ing could have been done directly in the circumference - 44" tured. The lugs turn inward on the one bowl, as steatite is resistant to heat and height- 10V Zakucia found and outward on the one will not melt. width -12V shown here. Steatite bowls date prior to the use of length-16" Steatite bowls are rare because steatite pottery, probably from the Late Archaic, weight - 45 lbs. is a soft stone that breaks easily and is around 2000 B.C. extremely fragile. This gray, greasy-feeling
Figure 1 (Wakefield) Four views of 45 lb. steatite container.
4 A UNIQUE AXE FROM SCOTLAND COUNTY, MISSOURI by Dale Roberts Mt. Sterling, Iowa 52573
I found this axe in Scotland County, It seems to be the only one of its type Ed. Note: Keokuk axes are found in Missouri, on May 4th of this year. It is yet reported. Many knowledgeable collec sections of Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois as made of black quartzite. tors including Ben Thompson, Red Tully, well as the lower Ohio River Valley. They The axe is a Keokuk type, but is small, Marvin Mear, Jack Roberts, and George are distinguished from other axes by a measuring only 3 in. long and VA in. thick Hoke have examined this axe, and it is flattened leading edge which may or may on the grove ridges. Unusual pits which the first Keokuk axe with pits that any of not be grooved. are % in. deep have been pecked into us have ever seem. both faces.
Fig. 1 (Roberts) Two views of Keokuk-type axe showing unusual pits in both faces.
5 BANNERSTONES by Bill Cain Wilkinson, Indiana
In the accompanying photographs are nerstones are rarely found in these days years ago in the days of horsedrawn ma shown some of the bannerstones in my of farming with large and heavy high chinery and in most cases when the collection. Included are a variety of styles speed farming equipment. Practically all ground was first broken. nearly all of which are scarce. Fine ban the pristine examples were found over 75
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~kk I
Fig. 1 (Cain) Five double notched winged bannerstone. All are made of banded slate - none are restored. The fine center bannerstone is from Marion Co., Ohio. Upper left, Delaware Co., Ohio. Upper right, Montgomery Co., Ohio. Lower left, Darke Co., Ohio. Lower right, Darke Co., Ohio.
Fig. 3 (Cain) A knobbed crescent found by a man named Sharkey in Preble Co., Ohio. It is 73A inches long.
Fig. 2 (Cain) A double crescent bannerstone. It was found on the Askin Farm, Montgomery Co., Ohio, and was originally collected by Jacob Royer of Dayton.
6 TWO DOVETAILS FROM PERRY CO., OHIO by Jim Hahn 770 S. 2nd St. Heath, Ohio 43056
On January 19, 1986 Keith Conway the same spot later that day and found son. Both are in the collection of Chuck from Perry County found these two dove the smaller point, which is 4% inches long. Michaels from West Virginia. tails when he was clearing a woods. After Although each is made of a different Dovetails date from the middle Archaic, the bulldozer had uprooted a stump, variety of Flint Ridge flint the bases are around 5000 B.C. Fakes abound. Conway picked up the larger point, which nearly identical, which suggests that they measures 5% inches long. He returned to might have been made by the same per
Fig. 1 (Hahn) Dovetails found in Perry Co., Ohio.
7 EARLIEST MEDICINES IN OHIO by Carl B. Dunn 120 Crescent Court Bucyrus, Ohio
Over thousands of years the Indians sugar were used as a standard physic, Skunk Cabbage - (Symplocarpus learned to recognize various plants as food bark of the root was boiled and the liquid foetidus) - Found in wet lowlands, it was sources and for their medicinal qualities. was used as a cathartic. prepared as an infusion or tea from the Through trial and error, keen observation dried root. It was used as a mild sedative. and the sharing of experiences, an ever- Dandelion - (Taraxacum officinale L) - expanding knowledge was developed of Drink brewed from the root was used for Stinging Nettle - (Urtica doica) - Whole plant utilization for curing or alleviating pain in the chest or stomach, i.e. liver or plant was used as a local irritant in the sickness, physical distress and injury. gall bladder. The plant is high in vitamins treatment of arthritis. Used in this manner From generation to generation the ac A, B and C. It is also used as a food. (Do caused increased flow of blood to site cumulation of knowledge about what part not eat leaves from lawns treated with which reduced inflammation. When ad of the plant to use, whether it was the herbicides.) ministered as a tea it was used as a cure leaf, flower, fruit, stem, bark or root; what for diarrhea. season was the best for maximum benefi Elderberry - (Sombucus canadensis L) cial result; what preparation was required; - Berries were dried, boiled and the liquid White Oak - (Quercus alba L.) - Root what dosage was needed over what time was used as a remedy for fever as the hot and inner bark containing tannic acid period, and how storage was to be made. liquid promoted sweating. The berries are were boiled and the liquid was used to re If medication became exhausted and was edible but leaves, bark and roots contain lieve diarrhea. unobtainable, it was imperative to know alkaloids and should not be eaten. what substitute was available, a prehis White Trillim - (Trillum grandiflorum toric version of modern generic drug Flowering Dogwood - (Cornus florida L.) - Rhizome was used as an astringent utilization. An awareness was also devel L.) - Bark was boiled and the liquid was (styptic agent) and tonic expectorant. oped of which plants were toxic when used as a mild astringent tonic for fever Fresh rhizome was grated and used as ingested, and which caused such things and colds. a poultice. It was used to promote the as dermatitis, such as contact with three- act of giving birth and relieving uterine leafed ivy. Jack-in-the-Pulpit - (Arisaema L.) - hemorrage. The following plants were selected from Root was dried and when pounded to a extensive listings of Indian-used plants be powder was used as a poultice for sore Wild Cherry - (Prunus virginiana L.) - cause they are native to Ohio's Wyandot eyes, boils and abscesses. It was also Tea made from the inner bark and fruit and Crawford Counties and are familiar to used as treatment for cough, sore throat was used for treating diarrhea. Warning: any farm youngster from that area: and ringworm. Do not eat, as the leaves or the fruit pits contain hydrocyanic acid. Ingestion will Arbor Vitae - (Thuja Occidentalis L.) - A Milkweed - (Asclepias suriaca L.) - Sap cause difficulty in breathing, loss of bal small-leaf bush or tree whose tender was used to treat warts, moles and ring ance and convulsions. young twigs were boiled to extract an oil worm. Liquid from boiled roots was a used to treat fever, as an expectorant and treatment for sterility, asthma and dysen Wild Grape - (Vitis spp.) - Fruit, leaves to expel or destroy intestinal worms. The tery. (Warning: it is a poison when in and tendrils were used to treat hepatitis, oil when mixed with bear fat was used to gested.) diarrhea and snakebite. treat rheumatism. Pokeweed - (Phytolacca americana) - Wild Mint - (Mentha arvensis L.) - Used Blackberry - (Rubus nigrobaccus L.) - Liquid obtained by boiling this plant was as a tea to relieve colic or as a medicine Root, when dried and pounded to a pulp, a narcotic; would cause vomiting and was for bowel trouble. was used as a cure for sore eyes in the a purgative. Berries were crushed and form of an eye wash or a poultice. used as a poultice on wounds and sores. Wintergreen - (Gaultheria procumbens Fruit and seeds steeped in water were L.) - Liquid from boiled leaves and berries Black Cherry - (Prunus serotina L.)- used externally to treat arthritis. Warning: used to treat rheumatism, flu, colds and Dried bark when powdered and mixed in roots, stems and berries are poisonous as a stomach alkalizer. a liquid was a tonic, sedative and an as when ingested. tringent used to treat chest pains. The frequency with which remedies for Puffball - (Lycoperdon gemmatum stomach or intestinal disorders, eye prob Blood Root - (Sanguinaria canadensis Batsch) - Used as a styptic for wounds, lems, bleeding and skin irritations occur is L.) - Rhizome, roots, and leaves used as a especially the umbilicus of the newborn; striking. In the nomadic life-style prac red skin stain. In small doses the liquid applied as a powder. ticed up to the full-scale development of from the crushed plant was an irritant and agriculture, the availability of food fre a narcotic; in large doses it was a nauseant Raspberry - (Rubus occidentalis L.) - quently ranged from feast to famine. After and caused vomiting. Juice from the rhi Root was used in a decoction as a rem bouts of famine a tendency undoubtedly zome is an ascharotic, a caustic that pro edy for bowel trouble, i.e., diarrhea and occurred to over-eat when food became duces a mass of dead tissue after applica dysentery. available. Another possible cause for the tion; used as a treatment for ring worm. same afflictions was the absence of ade (U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists Sour Dock - (Rumex crispus L.) - quate refrigeration with the consequent bloodroot as unsafe; DO NOT USE IT). Crushed leaves containing tanin, albumin consumption of tainted meat. and iron were bound on boils to draw out Lack of adequate ventilation in shelters Butternut - (Juglans cinereal L.) - Sap suppuration. Boiled leaves were eaten as with the smoke from cooking and heating was boiled like maple sap; the syrup and food. fires caused eye irritation necessitating
8 the application of poultices and soothing ACKNOWLEDGMENT Meuninck, Jim eye washes. Inadequate hygiene may 1942 Edible Wild Plants and Useful Herbs, ICS have fostered the incidence of ringworm My appreciation is herewith expressed to Books, Inc., Merrillville, Ind. pp 1- 63 which led to the use of medications in an the pharmacy staff of Struble Drug, Thomas, Charles C. effort to cure or relieve the problem. Bucyrus, Ohio, for their gracious assistance 1935 The Medicine Man of the American Because of the danger associated with with research in preparing this article. Indians and His Cultural Background, hunting large animals and the use of Springfield, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland sharp-edged flint weapons and imple REFERENCES pp 318-325 ments used in processing hides, plus fab rication of those weapons and imple Densmore, Francis ments, wounds could have been frequent. 1974 How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food Control of bleeding would have been a and Medicine, Dover Publications, Inc., priority. New York, N. Y. pp 286-305
Fig. 1 (Dunn) Jack-ln-Pulpit
Fig. 2 (Dunn) Plantain
p^n Y/ tfacK'/irPupit l>
9 TWO BOATSTONES by Gary Fogelman R.D. 1, Box 240 Turbotville, Pennsylvania
The boatstones pictured were found The boatstone on the right was found There were apparently two styles of within a mile of each other on Pine Creek, recently and was acquired by Dave boatstones. One is the type shown here. at Jersey Shore, Lycoming, Pennsylvania. Gilson. It is of a lighter shade than the The sides on the other type do not The specimen on the left is made of other one, the sides don't bulge as much, bulge, are not as thick or deep, and are Ohio fireclay and is gray with blackish in and the base is more pointed. In style, not drilled - they are more canoe- clusions. It is highly-polished and darker shape, material, and workmanship they shaped. The other type is made of red than this material usually appears, as if are quite similar to one another, and to dish or indurated shale. They often have anciently infused with grease. Scratch many other boatstones from this area. a keel or a knob. and abrasion marks are evident. Most of the boatstones in Pennsylvania Specimens of green and gray banded This boatstone is flat across the top, have been found in Lycoming and Clinton slate, and possibly hematite, are known but also slightly scooped out. The sides Counties. At least 15 are known for this from this area and are probably related bulge and the base is gently rounded. It area, and probably less than 5 are known to Adena. is not drilled, although most specimens from the rest of the state. This same area yields bar amulets, bird- from this area are. It was found at the stones, and tube pipes in small numbers. mouth of Pine Creek many years ago.
Fig. 1 (Fogelman) Side view of boatstones.
Fig. 2 (Fogelman) Bottom View of boatstones.
10 BIRDSTONE FOUND IN DARKE COUNTY by Ronnie Thiebeau Versailles, Ohio
The birdstone in figure 1 was found in under the tail and under the neck. There The use or purpose of birdstones is not June of 1992 by a friend of mine when is a small break on the tail. yet known for certain. This type birdstone the two of us were walking a site about 8 The birdstone was found on a flat, low- is considered a diagnostic artifact of the miles north of Greenville, Ohio. I subse lying area with no significant hills nearby, Glacial Kame culture, which dates it at quently obtained this artifact from him to close to a main road. There is a damp, around 2000 B.C. (Converse 1978). add to my site material. depressed area about 100 yards from It is made of banded slate and mea this site, which may have been a bog or REFERENCE 1 sures 2% inches long and 1 /2 inches high. even a small lake in prehistoric times. The average size for similar birdstones is In the same vicinity that day we Converse, Robert N. about 4 inches long, so this one is small. also found a hafted scraper made of 1978 Ohio Slate Types. Archaeological Society Although it is not drilled, it has a groove Coshocton flint and a broken slate pen of Ohio. dant or gorget.
Fig. 1 (Thiebeau) Two views of birdstone found in Darke County.
11 ARCHAIC BEVELS FROM THE RON HELMAN COLLECTION by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio
Fig. 1 (Converse) Archaic bevels from the Ron Helman collection. Coshocton County, Union County, Miami County, northeastern Ohio. Left example is 3% inches.
Archaic bevels are among the most Flint Ridge jewel flint examples are which are damaged or broken or have a common of all flint artifacts. There is known but are not often seen. stubby blade sharpened to exhaustion. hardly a farm or surface collection of any It was once thought that bevels were Because these tools were often used un size which does not contain at least one purposely designed to "spin in the air til there was little left of them, large example. Bevels are found in a number when shot". Actually, they were not used bevels or those with undamaged barbs of basal designs - classic specimens, as projectile points at all but were tools or blade edges are particularly scarce. and the kind most frequently encoun hafted with a short hand held handle. For every whole bevel found there are tered - have a sturdy fan-shaped base. Beveling is the result of continuous re- several hundred broken ones. All have extensive basal grinding. sharpening - the more they were re- In the past few years a flood of fraudu Materials encompass the total range of sharpened the steeper the bevel and the lent bevels has come into the market. flints found in the Ohio River Valley and shorter the blade. Evidence of heavy use Collectors are urged to closely examine unidentifiable flints are not uncommon. can be seen in the countless examples all pieces before acquisition.
12 PATINATION: A POOR DETERMINANT OF AGE by Wm Jack Hranicky PO Box 11256 Alexandria, Virginia 22312
Prehistoric tool patination is the result present, but these vary from environment The right base is made from siliceous of the weathering process that all lithic to environment, which causes great vari slate; it has a heavy patina and does not materials go through as they age. It is an ations in patina layers. show flake scars. Given enough time, the indicator of age, but how much age Patination has two forms, which are weathering process smooths the flake varies among materials, environments, dependent on the environment and ma scars and with a patina layer, hides flakes and exposure to weathering elements. terial. One type is varnishing or polish scars altogether. This variation complicates using the pati ing. While not all that common on pre Among the various lithic materials nation layer as an age determinant and historic flint tools, it does occur. The available to the Indians which were used, as a result, the only sure statement that other form is the abrasive surface or quartz is more resistant to the weathering can be made is that patination must be chemical altering to salts. Polishing process than any other raw material that present when analyzing prehistoric tools. leaves the surface shinny while the was used in prehistoric America. While Figure 1 shows a recent break on an ar abrasive process creates a patina layer. quartz does weather, the actual reduction chaic bifurcate point, which demon Probably the best examples of surface on the quartz surface is very small over strates a difference in old surface patina polishing are Cumberland points. A later long periods of time. Probably the least tion and the internal stone. This paper example is the Jack's Reef type made resistant materials to weathering, often surveys the patination process, environ from jasper. More study is needed for having a thick patina, are rhyolite and mental conditions, and ways different this type of weathering. siliceous slate. Paleo-lndian artifacts lithics weather. The structure of patination is not gen made from this material are usually heav The terms "patination" and "weather erally even all over a lithic tool. The ily patinated. The effects of weathering ing" can be used interchangeably; how weathering process creates patination are manifested in two categories: 1) sur face roughness and 2) surface (decom ever, the former is the result of the weath at different rates, such as top-side and position. These surface changes, which ering process. They are defined as: bottom-side positioning, increases/de creases due to environmental moisture/ are dependent on climatic conditions, are the patina layer. These factors involve Patination - surface condition on lithic dryness changes, movement caused by roots or rodents, changes in tempera two parameters (see Sanders et al. materials which was caused by chemical 1972): 1) surface roughness is the alteration over time. ture, or presence/absence of certain chem icals in ground waters. The patination process of total material dissolution (leaching) or static weathering, and 2) Weathering - chemical or mechani layer is generally stratified depending on the above environmental conditions. surface composition is the make up cal altering of the surface of lithic ma (patina) caused by dynamic weathering. terial, which creates a roughened sur Thickness can vary from microns to mil face over time. limeters. Most cobbles have a thick patina layer Patination analysis involves the study which can be up to 3 mm. Purdy (1981: The weathering process is a natural of: 129) suggests two types of surface de phenomena in that all rock surfaces de composition: static and dynamic weather compose which produces the soils which 1. Lithic composition, hardness, and re ing (see Figure 3). She suggests that both in turn support plant life. While not an es sistance to weathering the extent of the surface roughening and pecially complicated process in nature, 2. Weathering environmental conditions, the thickness of the selectively leached layer are dependent on the duration of the its affect on archeological tools is always such as moisture or dryness exposure. Her kinetics equation relates present, but a presence we cannot easily 3. Length of time for lithic exposure to the exposure time to the extent of surface analyze and make use of in archeology. the weathering process. roughening (static weathering), and the There are two types of weathering: 1) Each of these factors can be analyzed thickness of selectively leached layer (dy mechanical and 2) chemical. They are namic weathering), defined as: separately, but collectively they represent the weathering process. They are inter Mechanical weathering - altering the connected, and all must be present for as: lithic surface by freezing/thawing or root lithics to weather. The degree of weather action. ing depends on the degree each factor d(T) = d(1) + d(2) played in the process. Obviously, each Chemical weathering - rearranging the factor can vary greatly. We now know d(T) = K(1) t(sq rt) + K(2)t surface elements by chemicals found in that climate is more important than the (dynamic) (static) nature into new minerals or surface corro lithic material; but the process is com sion which breaks down the material. plex, and time in an environment plays an where: important role. Examples of weathering Mechanical weathering is not a major on Paleo-lndian points are shown in d(T) = total thickness of the affected factor in prehistoric times other than caus Figure 2. The left point base is made of surface ing tool breakage or small surface lesions. quartz, which has yellowed slightly, but K(1), K(2) = experimentally determined The chemical weathering process is an otherwise; the point shows little weather reaction rate constants acid process of the uniting of oxygen (oxi ing. Moving right, the next point base is t = duration of exposure (can be dation), water (hydrolysis), and carbon made of quartzite, which has lost some considered age of artifact) dioxide (carbonation) to form carbonic of its luster, but otherwise, it shows little d(1) = thickness of surface affected by acid. This acid is extremely weak and sev weathering. Next, a flint base is shown dynamic weathering eral thousand years is needed in order to which has some weathering, but overall, d(2) = thickness of surface affected by produce patination. Other acids can be the point has well-defined flake scars. static weathering.
13 Basically, Purdy's kinetic formula mea type of soil that is found. In the east, soils Infrared reflection spectroscopy is a sures the thickness of dynamic weather are pedalfers types which contain alu relatively common method for examining ing which is used to produce a date. The minum and iron, are humus in content, structural alterations of the weathering thickness of laboratory weathering is ap acidic (
14 Figure 2 (Hranicky) Examples of surface weathering by material - Left (Quartz), next (Quartzite), next (Flint), and right (Silicious Slate). (North Carolina Points)
Figure 1 (Hranicky) An Archaic Bifurcate Point showing a recent break which shows unweathered and weathered surfaces.
SURFACES
ORIGINAL ROCK SURFACE TIME PRESENT SURFACE (ROUGHENED)
WEATHERING LAYER DISOLVED (STATIC) Figure 3 (Hranicky) Surface change based on weathering. LAYER ALTERED (DYNAMIC)
LITHIC MATERIAL INCREASING TIME EXPOSURE MATERIAL LITHIC SOFTNESS LITHIC HARDNESS
QUARTZ ELASTIC - FAST WEATHERING FELSITES METAQUARTZITE ORTHOOUARTZTTE ARGILUTE QUARTZ CRYSTAL RHYOUTE Figure 4 (Hranicky) Range of lithic workability CHALCEDONIES AGATES CHERTS SLATE FLINTS BASALT OPALTTES OBSIDIAN 3 2 1 10 7 6 5 4 RESISTANCE TO WEATHERING
15 THE BARLOW SITE: SECOND REPORT by Wayne A. Mortine Newcomerstown, Ohio
INTRODUCTION forms (Fig. 1: A-D). Arthur George Smith Transitional Archaic-Early The Barlow Site is a multicomponent (1960) referred to these points as Ohio Woodland Occupation prehistoric site located in Oxford Town Lanceolates. None show the degree of (68 specimens) ship, Coshocton County, Ohio, about two skilled workmanship that is found in the A transitional period between Late and a half miles west of Newcomerstown earlier Paleo Indian points. Specimen A Archaic and Early Woodland (Adena), on the north side of the Tuscarawas in Figure 1 has a slightly concave base, generally dating from 1700 B.C. to 700 River. In 1973 a small test excavation the blade shape is excurvate and there is B.C. or slightly later, has been defined was conducted on the site by the author grinding on the haft region of the blade for Pennsylvania, New York, and New and Dennis Barlow. This excavation was edge. It is made from a grainy multicol Jersey by Whitthoft (1953), as well as for prompted by reports that many artifacts ored, beige, tan and blue-grey material. northern Ohio (Prufer and Sofsky had been found there when the area was Specimen B is a broken stemless lanceo 1965:33-34). Points identified for this cultivated. At that time of the excava late that has a straight base, excurvate time period include Ashtabula and tions, however, the site was overgrown blade edge and light grinding of the haft Perkiomen Broad Points. Ashtabula with brush and small trees. The results of region of the base. It has been made points are common in collections from this testing was published in a prelimi from a local beige colored flint. Specimen eastern and northeastern Ohio, and 18 nary report in the Ohio Archaeologist C is a resharpened lanceolate form with a examples were found at the Barlow Site (Mortine 1974). slightly convex base. It is made from a (Fig. 3: B-G). All are made from black, In the intervening years between the black Upper Mercer flint. There is light gray, and white Upper Mercer flints from 1973 test excavations and the present, Mr. grinding on the haft region of the base. western Coshocton County. Barlow has added to his collection of pre While the workmanship on this point is Another point type from the Barlow historic material from the site. It became rather crude, it appears that the flint Site that may date to this transitional pe obvious from examining these artifacts knapper was attempting to detach par riod is the small corner-notched type illus that the site had a much more diverse as allel flakes from the blade surface. Speci trated in Figure 4, A-E (Converse 1973:49). semblage than what was originally re men D is a broken stemless lanceolate In the Newcomerstown area these points ported. The total of the ceramic finds has with a straight base and excurvate blade have been found in refuse pits at the Early increased by an additional 136 sherds, edges. Light grinding occurs on the haft Woodland Cramlet Site (Mortine 1964). and the total identifiable flint artifacts re region of the blade edges. It is manufac Associated in the same pits with these covered from the site has now reached tured from a local tan material. points was plain grit tempered pottery 135. With this additional material to work Early Archaic points in Figure 1 include (Adena Plain ?), as well as an expanded with, it was thought that a more detailed specimen E, a Big Sandy side-notched bar atlatal weight and Adena stemmed interpretation of the site was warranted. point. The base of this point is heavily projectile points. It is quite possible, how ground, as are the notches. It was manu ever, that this style of point existed over a THE SITE factured from a multi-colored flint. Speci considerable time period. The author con The Barlow Site is situated on a sandy, men F is a St. Charles or Dovetail point, siders the pentagonal form of this point to steep-sided bench that extends outward with a heavily ground base. It is made of be the result of resharpening or repair. into a low marshy area along the north a white Flint Ridge material and the origi Along the terraces of the Tuscarawas edge of the river valley (elevation 820). nal length has been much reduced from River in the Newcomerstown area, this This bench is well sheltered on three resharpening. Specimen G is one of two style is the majority point style found at sides by protecting ridges that rise to LeCroy/Lake Erie Bifurcated points found most multi-component sites. This is also heights of 200 feet above the valley floor. at the site. The illustrated example is true of the Barlow Site; thirty-nine exam Only the southern approach is open or made of a black Upper Mercer flint. ples of this point style were found, repre exposed. An unnamed spring-feed creek senting 38% of all the identifiable points runs south by the site and joins the Late Archaic Occupation in the collection from Barlow. Sixty-four Tuscarawas River at the apex or peak of (32 specimens) percent of these small corner-notched a large meander bend. During periods of Late Archaic Brewerton and related points are made from Flint Ridge flint. flooding, water backs up from this bend side-notched and corner-notched points Illustrated in Figure 4, F-N, are exam into the low ground in front of the site. (including Lamoka, Vosburg, and Gen- ples of other point types that fall into this The bench itself was well drained and esse points) from the Barlow Site are il transitional period, although they appear generally well above the surrounding lustrated in Figure 2. Also found at the to be related to types more commonly flood waters. This situation was probably site were a number of "Fishspear" points found farther down the Ohio River Valley what attracted the various prehistoric (Converse 1973), also known as Matanzas (starting in southern Indiana-northern groups to the site, and these groups in points (Justice 1987:119-120). This partic Kentucky). These appear to fall within the cluded Paleo Indian through Late Pre ular style of Late Archaic side-notched progression from the Terminal Archaic historic. The diagnostic artifacts from point is a frequent find on sites and in stemmed points to the more typical Early these occupations at the Barlow Site in collections in eastern Ohio, including the Woodland (Adena) stemmed forms. clude the following: Tuscarawas valley and nearby Wills Specimen F is related to the Delhi Barbed Creek drainage basin. Three small Late point type (Justice 1987:179-180), speci Earliest Occupation Archaic Riverton or Merom Cluster points mens G and H are "Fishtail" points, and (10 specimens) were also identified among the artifacts specimens I and J are Little Bear Creek The Paleo Indian/Piano Complex and from the Barlow Site. All of these Late (Justice 1987:196-197). Points K and L in Early Archaic components are both dated Archaic point styles date generally to the Figure 4 are similar to Gary Contracting in the same general time period of 8,000- period 3,000 B.C. to 1700 B.C., and nearly Stemmed points (Justice 1987:189-190). 6,000 B.C. Evidence of the Piano Com all were fashioned from Coshocton County Specimens M and N are typical of the plex at the site consists of six lanceolate Upper Mercer flints. Adena Stemmed points of Ohio and sur-
16 rounding areas. Specimens F through Ceramics drained location above the often flooded N are manufactured from Coshocton After the initial 1973 excavations at the river bottoms. Pit features and ceramics County flints. site, Mr. Barlow was able to add 68 grit suggest that the Woodland peoples may tempered plain surfaced Early Woodland have stayed at the site for longer periods Middle Woodland Occupation pottery sherds to his collection. These of time than their Archaic predecessors. (10 specimens) sherds were contained in a small refuse There is little evidence of what resources There were 10 points from the Barlow pit at the back of the site. Included in this might have been exploited at the site, Site (Fig. 5: A-D) that relate to the Middle sample was a basal sherd that indicated a however. Preservation is poor, and thus Woodland time period in Ohio (100 B.C. - vessel with a flat base. Another find from far only a few charred deer bones have A.D.400). Specimens A and B resemble this pit was a ceramic lug handle or ap been found. somewhat the Chesser Notched form, and pendage that appears to have originally may date closer to the latter part of the been riveted to the vessel wall (Fig. 7). References Middle Woodland period or even the early Sixty-four additional grit tempered Converse, Robert N. Late Woodland period (ca. A.D.400 - A.D. cordmarked Late Woodland sherds were 1973 Ohio Flint Types. The Archaeological 700). Six of the Middle Woodland points also recovered at Barlow. These were Society of Ohio. are made from Flint Ridge material. found as scattered locations across the Justice, Noel D. site. A small rim section shows vertical 1987 Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of Late Woodland through cordmarking extending to the lip of the the Mid-continental and Eastern United Late Prehistoric vessel. The lip was slightly rounded with States. Indiana University Press, (15 specimens) cordmarked impressions. The forming of Bloomington. Madison triangles are the common the lip was caused by downward pres Mortine, Wayne A. point style represented on a myriad of sure from the same cordwrapped paddle 1964 The Cramlet Site. Ohio Archaeologist, middle and late Late Woodland and Late that was used on the vessel walls. 14( ). 112-114 Prehistoric sites in Ohio and throughout Four shell tempered tool-impressed Prufer, Olaf H. and Charles Sofsky most of the eastern United States (Justice sherds, including one rim, have also been 1965 The McKibben Site (33 Tr. 57) Trumbull 1987:224-227.) Eleven examples were identified from among the recent ceramic Co., Ohio: A Contribution to a Late found at the Barlow Site (Fig. 5: E-l), as finds. The rim sherd is straight and the lip Paleo-lndian and Archaic Phase of Ohio. was a larger fragmentary triangular knife has the same style of tool impressions Michigan Archaeologist 11 (1): 9-40 form that was probably associated with that appear on the vessel wall (Fig. 8). Prufer, Olaf H. these points. Five of the triangles were One final comment is warranted in this 1968 Ohio Hopewell Ceramics, Analysis of made from Flint Ridge materials. section regarding the ceramics described Extant Collections. Anthropological Three broken Late Woodland blades or in the 1974 report. Several sherds con Papers, Museum of Anthropology, preforms found at the site are also illus forming to Prufer's Hopewellian series University of Michigan, No. 33 Ann trated (Fig. 6: A-C). One of these (Fig. 6: Seip Plain have been identified during a Arbor. C) is made from Brush Creek flint. Two reexamination of this earlier sample, and Smith, Arthur G. broken projectile point or preform tips undoubtedly related to the eight or ten 1960 The Sawmill Site, Erie County, Ohio. from Barlow were also made from this Middle Woodland points found at the site. Ohio Archaeologist 10 (3): 84-97. material. The nearest outcrop of Brush Witthoft, John Creek flint is in northern Morgan County, Conclusion 1953 Broad Spearpoints and the Transitional along the Muskingum River. Discoveries at the Barlow Site since Period Cultures. Pennsylvania Also illustrated in Figure 6 (D-G) are ex 1973 indicate that the location was occu Archaeologist 38 (1): 4-31 amples of small scrapers that were found pied intermittently by a wide range of at the site. They were made on roughly prehistoric peoples. The physiographic parallel-sided blades with retouch pri setting of the site was probably attractive marily on the ends. These could date to these groups for a number of reasons, from various periods. not the least of which was its well
Fig. 1 (Mortine) Faleo Indian/Piano Complex: (A-D) Lanceolates
Early Archaic: (E) Big Sandy (F) Dovetail (G) Lake Erie Bifurcated Fig. 2 (Mortine) Late Archaic: (A-D) Brewerton Side-Notched (E-G) Brewerton Corner-Notched (H) Vosburg Corner-Notched (l-J) Lamoka (K-L) Fishspear
Fig. 3 (Mortine) Terminal Archaic: (A) Genesee
Transitional Period: (B-F) Ashtabula (G) Perklomen Broad
Fig. 4 (Mortine) Late Archaic/Early Woodland: (A-E) Corner-Notched and Corner-Notched Pentagonals (F) Delhi Barbed
Early, Early Woodland: (G-H) Fishtairs (l-J) Little Bear Creek
Early Woodland: (K-L) Gary Contracting Stemmed (M-N) Adena Stemmed
18 Fig. 5 (Mortine) Middle Woodland: (A-D) Hopewell
Late Woodland/Mississippian: (E-l) Triangles
Fig. 6 (Mortine) Late Woodland: (A-C) Late Woodland Blades
Miscellaneous tools: (D-G) Scrapers
Fig. 7 (Mortine) Grit tempered, plain surfaced, Early Woodland rim sherds and lug from a refuse pit found at the back of the site.
Fig. 8 (Mortine) Top row: Late Woodland/Miss issippian, triangular points. Lower row: Shell tempered, tool impressed pottery sherds.
19 AN OVERVIEW OF WESTERN BASIN LATE WOODLAND OCCUPATIONS AT THE FOOT OF THE LOWER RAPIDS OF THE SANDUSKY RIVER by Jonathan E. Bowen 419 Sandusky Ave. Fremont, Ohio 43420
Introduction bed of Silurian dolomite. Below the center Younge (A.D. 850-1200) During the 1880's George Buckland, a of Fremont the river has no gradient, as it Younge phase potsherds (Fig. 3) have youthful resident of Fremont, Ohio, exca is level with the waters of Sandusky Bay been reported from five localities at vated an assemblage of 14th-17th cen and Lake Erie. Pre-1825 government land Fremont. Scattered sherds have been tury ceramics from a bluff overlooking the surveys show that the area was located found by the writer at 33SA8, by Sprunk Sandusky River and Brady's Island at the within an oak/hickory forest, with some at 33SA86, and by both Smith and archaeological site now known as 33SA8. prairie openings on the extensive flood- Stothers at 33SA187. Siddell found a pit After a hiatus of eighty years, William plains. Because the Fremont area was lo feature that contained ceramics as well as Smith, Sr. of St. Joseph Central Catholic cated on a delta of the early Sandusky the remains of deer and raccoon eroding High School resumed local archaeological River at the end of the Ice Age, extensive out of the bluff at 33SA40, and Stothers research in the 1960's. Michael Siddell, a deposits of sandy loam are located on the also found Younge phase pottery in a student of Smith, and Iva Sprunk of the uplands. These areas, as well as the bot basin-shaped pit feature there. Sandusky County Historical Society sub tomlands, would have been productive for In 1987 the writer excavated a Younge sequently made important contributions corn cultivation by the Western Basin Late phase settlement at Birchard Public through surface survey. In 1976 the writer Woodland peoples. Library (33SA172). Two 4X5 meter subrec- began his archaeological fieldwork at the One of the more productive but sea tangular structures with interior hearths lower rapids of the Sandusky River. sonal resources of the lower rapids are and a thin adjacent midden deposit were During the late 1980's David Stothers and the fish spawning runs. In late March, at uncovered. Potsherds, chippage, as well Timothy Abel of the University of Toledo the time of the final snow flurries, huge as the sparse remains of deer, bird, rac also conducted fieldwork there. numbers of walleye ascend the Sandusky coon, bird, fish, clam, com, and hickory All of the prehistoric archaeological fea River to spawn at the foot of the rapids. nut were also found. Most of the chippage tures discovered by these researchers are By mid-April the redhorse suckers have is of Pipe Creek chert from the Sandusky- affiliated with the Western Basin Late taken their place, and finally the white Bellevue area, to the east. Woodland cultural sequence, which dates bass run during the month of May. Prior from A.D. 500 through 1650. Thus, it is to modern dams and legislation, a large Wolf (A.D. 1200-1475) apparent that the foot of the lower commercial fishery operated at Fremont Both Smith and Stothers have con Sandusky River rapids at present-day every year from late March through the ducted excavations into the early Wolf Fremont was a focus of settlement and end of May. phase (pre-1300) settlement at Crown activity for the Western Basin Late A total of eight Western Basin Late Battery (33SA40). Stothers found the Woodland peoples. The Western Basin Woodland (A.D. 500-1650) ceramic sites component to be about 50 meters in di Late Woodland cultural sequence (Stothers have been identified at the foot of the ameter, containing traces of approxi 1978) is so named because its remains lower rapids of the Sandusky River mately 4X5 meter subrectangular struc occur around the western basin of Lake (Table 1; Fig. 1). It is fortunate that sys tures. He also found several hearth-like Erie, from Chatham, Ontario through tematic excavations have been con features, as well as a pit lined with corn southeastern Michigan and northwestern ducted at five of these sites. The other foliage and filled with corn kernels. The Ohio, east to the mouth of Sandusky three, 33SA63, 33SA86, and 33SA250 writer examined the faunal assemblage, Bay. Although originally thought to end are known only through surface survey. and found deer, raccoon, waterfowl, turkey, during the 13th century, recent studies by All of the artifacts illustrated in this paper, and elk to be the most abundant terrestrial Murphy and Ferris (1990) show that the except for those from 33SA172 and vertebrates, in that order. Fish remains, Western Basin Late Woodland sequence 33SA250, are at the Ohio Historical Center mostly those of redhorse suckers, were lasted until the entire region was depopu in Columbus. Those from 33SA172 are also moderately abundant in the sample. lated during the 1640's. The temporal housed at Birchard Public Library, on the Smith found a pottery vessel with a guil- phases of the Western Basin Late grounds of which they were excavated in louche design and strap handles at Woodland are Riviere au Vase (A.D. 500- 1987. Those from 33SA250 are the prop 33SA40, suggesting that at least some of 850), Younge (A.D. 850-1200), Wolf (A.D. erty of the City of Fremont, which owns the people from the upriver area, which 1400-1500), Fort Meigs (A.D. 1500-1600), Brady's Island. was abandoned to this time, came to the and Indian Hills (A.D. 1600-1650). These lower rapids. Siddell found portions of an early Wolf phase vessel associated with hu dates are, of course, only approximate. Riviere au Vase (A.D. 500-850) man remains at the County Jail (33SA63), About a dozen radiocarbon dates have The writer has collected several in the upland just to the southwest of been obtained from the sites at the foot Riviere au Vase phase potsherds (Fig. 2) 33SA40. of the lower Sandusky River rapids. They eroding out of the foot of Brady's Island, are summarized in Bowen (1991) and in at 33SA250. Chippage and fire-cracked Both Stothers and the writer have con Stothers and Abel (1989). rocks were also noted, as were the re ducted excavations into an early Wolf The foot of the lower rapids of the mains of deer, raccoon, and freshwater phase thick midden deposit at Sandusky Sandusky River is located at Fremont, drum. Little more can be said regarding Avenue (33SA8). The writer has also Ohio, about 15 km above the head of the sole Riviere au Vase site known at found a basin-shaped hearth of this pe Sandusky Bay. For several kilometers Fremont. It is, however, a bottomland riod at the site. The assemblage recov above the center of Fremont (the State site, while the other, later Western Basin ered by the writer includes ceramics, Pipe Street Bridge), the Sandusky River rushes Late Woodland sites are all located on Creek chert chippage, a ceramic smoking down about 2 meters per kilometer, over a blufftops or in the uplands. pipe, a deer metatarsal beamer, and deer
20 and turkey bone awls. The ceramic as and beaver. The bottoms of the refuse- knowledges that he is as guilty as anyone semblage includes Mixter Tool-impressed filled storage pits contain large deposits in this respect. For example, the writer sherds associated with a very substantial of redhorse sucker remains, suggesting spent a 40-hour week as this paper was minority of specimens apparently made that they were filled with trash beginning submitted floating and waterscreening 20 by immigrants from upriver (Fig. 4). In or in late April, when these fish spawn in the garbage bags of dirt from Indian Hills der of abundance, the faunal assemblage adjacent rapids. storage pit 1991B at 33SA8. That resulted primarily consists of deer, redhorse sucker, Two hearths of the Fort Meigs phase in a full archives box of light fraction turkey, raccoon, and elk. Although hickory were encountered at Birchard Library botanical remains alone. This will take a nutshell fragments are moderately abun (33SA172). They contained potsherds, a specialist at least several weeks of con dant, corn is extremely scarce or absent in point, scraper, and chippage of Delaware stant labor to analyze properly. And it is this sample. chert, and the remains of deer, bear, rac only half of that feature; the rest is still in A thick middle Wolf phase (1300-1400) coon, bird, and fish. A few hickory nut 20 more bags! One used to hear that it midden containing hearths overlies the shell fragments were also recovered. takes about 8 hours in the lab for every early Wolf phase midden at 33SA8. It has Scattered post-1500 tiny shell-tempered one in the field. With modern methodolo been found to contain similar cultural re bodysherds have been found on the sur gies, the ratio it probably more like 100 to mains, although the upriver-type of ce face at Crown Battery (33SA40) by Smith 1 at rich sites like these. It is not surpris ramics are absent, Mixter Tool-impressed and by Stothers as well as at Durnwald ing that large backlogs build up under being the almost totally dominant type (33SA187) by Stothers. such circumstances. After excavating pit (Fig. 5). The upper Wolf phase midden is 1991B, which took a week, the writer darker in color and richer in artifacts, fau Indian Hills phase (A.D. 1600-1650) could easily spend a year of full-time nal remains, and charcoal the earlier de One large cylindrical storage pit dating work cleaning, processing, cataloging, posit immediately beneath it. In order of to the Fort Meigs/lndian Hills phase tran analyzing, and writing. Actually, a year is a abundance, the faunal sample consists sition (Fig. 8) and three of the Indian Hills very conservative estimate! mostly of deer, redhorse sucker, raccoon, phase proper (Fig. 9) have been uncov A few salient points seem to stand out and turkey. Hickory nutshell fragments ered at Sandusky Avenue. Unlike those of from this very localized cultural history. are extremely abundant, and corn is the preceding Fort Meigs phase, these The corn-filled pit found by Stothers at merely scarce, not extremely rare, as in pits are not belled out at the bottom, they 33SA40 is similar to those found by him the underlying deposit. contain no concentrations of fish remains, at the Petersen site (330T9) on the Port The writer found a late Wolf phase and numerous corn kernels are found in age River and by G. Michael Pratt at the (1400-1475) potsherd and a beaver molar them. Two of the three Indian Hills phase Harbour site (33ER280). All date to the in a possible small hearth at Birchard pits have yielded European trade items. early Wolf phase (1200-1300). It is un Public Library (33SA172). The feature had Pit 1991A contained a cone ("tinkler") known whether this relates to heavy re almost been obliterated by late I9th cen made from sheet copper. Pit 1991B has liance on corn, a certain preparation tech tury grading. A very few other possible yielded a tubular sheet copper bead, and nique, or a ritual something like the Green late Wolf phase sherds were found in the another specimen was recovered from Corn ceremony. redeposited sod zone. the plow zone area that feature. Also, a Thick midden deposits without large Abel, Smith, Stothers, and the writer possible native-made gunflint of Pipe storage pits seem to be the hallmark of the have all conducted excavations into the Creek chert was found in storage pit Wolf phase (1200-1500) in the Fremont terminal Wolf phase/initial Fort Meigs 1991 A. These specimens are what one vicinity. After 1500, as the middens no phase transitional (1475-1500) compo would expect to find in a local early 17th longer accumulated, numerous large stor nent at Blue Banks (33SA10). The de century deposit (see Graves 1984). age pits were dug. This should not be con posits consist of a thick midden and The Indian Hills phase storage pits sidered surprising or remarkable, as the scattered hearths. The pottery includes have also yielded two elk antler hoes, refuse ended up in last-years empty pit in grit-tempered specimens with incised and several bone awls, several shell spoons stead of on the surface of the ground. stamp/ drag Wolf phase type decoration, or scrapers, as well as several triangular The writer had previously thought that but with notched applique rimstrips char arrowpoints of Pipe Creek and Delaware no Indian Hills phase (1600-1650) settle acteristic of the subsequent Fort Meigs cherts, a bifacial endscraper of Vanport ments existed on the Sandusky River, and phase (Fig. 6). In order of abundance, the (Flint Ridge) chert from east-central Ohio, that corn cultivation declined in impor faunal remains consist of deer, redhorse two Pipe Creek chert drills, a small meta- tance at that time. The June 1991 exca sucker, raccoon, squirrel, waterfowl, and morphic celt, and a full-grooved hammer vations at 33SA8 have shown both of turkey. Smith and Stothers have each or club. Hickory and walnut shell frag these conclusions to be in error. In fact, it found Wolf phase graves a short distance ments occur along with the abundant appears that the Sandusky Avenue site tothenorthat33SA187. corn. Deer, raccoon, turkey, and beaver may have been occupied continuously (or remains are abundant. Although not at least annually) from at least as early as Fort Meigs phase (A.D. 1500-1575) found in great concentrations, redhorse, 1550 until the mid-1600's. Although no Three large bell-shaped storage pits, bowfin, largemouth/smallmouth bass, trace now remains of that feature, an approximately 1.5 meter wide at the freshwater drum, channel cat, and bull earthen wall and ditch enclosed an area bottom and 1.5 meter deep, and three head are ubiquitous. of 6 hectares (400X150 meters) at 33SA8. basin-shaped hearths of the Fort Meigs Based of Vandrei's (1987) most conserva phase have been uncovered at Sandusky Conclusions tive population estimates for Seneca Avenue (33SA8). They contained shell- It should be obvious to the most casual Iroquois village sites of the same period, tempered pottery (Fig. 7), triangular ar- reader that this paper is merely a very slightly more than 1800 people could rowpoints and bifacial, teardrop-shaped general overview of the Western Basin have lived within the earthwork at 33SA8 endscrapers of Delaware chert from Late Woodland remains found at the foot by the early 17th century. northwestern Erie County, and a variety on the lower Sandusky River rapids. The writer is often asked who these of bone tools, including beamers of elk Therefore, it has been necessary to make people were historically (i.e. "what tribe?"). metatarsal and bear femur. Although nut many gross generalizations. The ade To answer this, he defers to two other shell is abundant, corn is scarce. quate reporting of the results of the re distinguished researchers with exten The most abundant faunal remains search upon which this summary is based sive knowledge of the ethnohistorical from these features, in order, include red would require many volumes. The writer record. Graves (1984) suggested that the horse sucker, deer, turkey, elk, raccoon, is not attacking others for this, as he ac Aictaeronon may have lived in the greater
21 Sandusky Bay area during the early "That there may have been such Heidenreicl, Conrad E. 1600's, while Heidenreich (1990) places a tradition among the Indians, we 1990 History of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes the Ontarahronon there at that time. Both, are unable to gainsay, but of its area to A.D. 1650. In the archaeology of however, agree that they were a Central truth we have doubts" southern Ontario to A.D. 1650, ed. by Algonquian people. C.J. Ellis and N. Ferris, pp. 475-492. Finally, the writer wishes to mention the Such a legend would be much more ap Occasional Publication of the London "Legend of the Neutral Nation", which plicable to the Niagara Frontier area than Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society has been firmly established in Fremont for to the lower rapids of the Sandusky River. No. 5. at least the last 150 years. At an 1845 The archaeological remains found around Howe, Henry session of the Young Men's Association in Fremont bear no resemblance to those of 1850 Historical collections of Ohio. Bradley Toledo, former Indian Agent B.F. Stickney the Huron [Wyandot] or related groups, in and Anthony, Cincinnati. stated that:: cluding the Neutral. The ancestors of the Murphy, Carl, and Neal Ferris elderly Wyandots who were Stickney's in 1990 The Late Woodland Western Basin tradi "near Lower Sandusky [Fremont] formants would have lived faraway in tion of southwestern Ontario. In the ar ...two centuries and a half since [ca. Ontario. Perhaps the Wyandots who first chaeology of southern Ontario to A.D. 1600] ...all the Indians west of this entered the Sandusky River area in the 1650, ed. by C.J. Ellis and N. Ferris, pp. point were at war with all the 1730's brought their oral tradition with 189-278. Occasional Publication of the Indians east. Two walled towns them, but later transferred the setting to London Chapter. Ontario Archaeological were built near each other, and their new homeland on the Sandusky. Society No. 5. each was inhabited by those of Stothers, David. M. Wyandott [sic] origin. They as References 1978 The Western Basin tradition. Michigan sumed a neutral character, and the Bowen, Jonathan E. Archaeologist 24(1) 11 -36. Indians at war recognized that 1991 The late prehistory of northwestern Ohio. , and Timothy J. Abel character. ...At length a quarrel Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of 1989 The position of the "Pearson complex" in arose between the two cities, and Anthropology, The Ohio State University, the late prehistory of Ohio. Archaeology one destroyed the inhabitants of Columbus. of Eastern North America 17:109-141. the other." Graves, James R. Vandrei, Charles E. 1984 The Indian Hills site (33-WO-4). 1987 Observations on Seneca settlement in In 1829 Lewis Cass related the same Unpublished M.A. thesis, Department of the early historic period. The Bulletin of legend to the Historical Society of Michi Sociology, Anthropology, and Social the New York State Archaeological gan, although Howe (1850) thought that Work, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Association 95: 8-17. he may have been quoting Stickney. Ohio. Howe (1850: 446) stated, however that:
Site Component(s) Features Research
33SA8 (Sandusky Ave.) Younge(850-1200) unknown Bowen early Wolf (1200-1300) thick midden Buckland hearths Smith Strothers middle Wolf (1300-1400) thick midden hearths Fort Meigs (1500-1575) storage pits hearths Ft. Meigs/lnd. Hills Transition storage pit (1575-1600) Indian Hills (1600-1650) storage pits
33SA10 (Blue Banks) Wolf/Ft. Meigs transition thick midden Abel (1475-1500) hearths Bowen Smith Stothers
33SA40 (Crown Battery) Younge (850-1200) hearths Siddell early Wolf (1200-1300) 4x5 m lodges Smith hearths Stothers Ft. Meigs/lnd. Hills (1500-1650) unknown
33SA63 (County Jail) early Wolf (1200-1300) grave Siddell
33SA86 (Cole Road) Younge(850-1200) hearths Sprunk
33SA172 (Birchard Lib.) Younge (850-1200) 4x5 m lodges Bowen hearths thin midden late Wolf (1400-1475) hearth Fort Meigs (1500-1575) hearths
Durnwald (33SA187) Younge (850-1200) unknown Smith Wolf (1200-1475) graves Storthers Ft. Meigs/lnd. Hills (1500-1650) unknown
33SA250 (Brady's Is.) Riviere au Vase (500-850) unknown Bowen
Table 1 (Bowen) Western Basin Late Woodland ceramic sites at the foot Fig. 1 (Bowen) Western Basin Late Woodland (A.D. 500-1650) of the lower rapids of the Sandusky River. archaeological sites near the foot of the lower rapids of the Sandusky River. 22 Fig. 2 (Bowen) Grit-tempered cordmarked Riviere au Vase phase (500-850) rimsherd with cordwrapped stick impressions on the lip from Brady's Island (33SA250).
Fig. 3 (Bowen) Grit-tempered Younge phase (850-1200) rimsherd with cordwrapped stick impressions on the neck, lip, and interior and crossed tool impressions on the exterior below the lip from a thin midden deposit off Birchard Public Library (33SA172).
Fig. 4 (Bowen) Grit-tempered Mixter Tool-iimpressed and Fort Ancient-like rimsherds from the base of the lower Fig. 5 (Bowen) Grit-tempered midden at Sandusky Avenue middle Wolf phase (1300- (33SA8). These relate to the 1400) Mixter Tool-impressed early Wolf phase (1200-1300). rimsherds from the top of the upper midden deposit at San dusky Avenue (33SA8).
Fig. 7 (Bowen) Shell-tempered Fig. 6 (Bowen) Grit-tempered Fort Meigs phase (1500-1575) transitional Wolf/Fort Meigs rimsherd with tool impres phase (1474-1500) rimsherd sions above and vertical finger with stamp/drag decoration impressions below a notched above and incising below a applique rimstrip from storage notched appligue rimstrip from pit 1900A at Sandusky Ave Blue Banks (33SA8). Other nue. Other sherds suggest that sherds suggest that this vessel this vessel had strap handles. had strap handles.
Fig. 8 (Bowen) Shell-tempered transitional Fort Meigs/lndian Hills phase (1575-1600) rim Fig. 9 (Bowen) Shell-tempered sherd from storage pit 199B at Indian Hills phase (1600-1650) Sandusky Avenue (33SA8). rimsherd from storage pit This specimen exhibits the 1991B at Sandusky Avenue Fort Meigs phase attributes of (33SA8). This specimen has a plain lip, notched applique stamped tool-impressions on rimstrip and strap handle, the lip, just below the lip, punctuates below incised bordering broadly incised festoons, and punctuates festoons, and just above the above the body cordmarking, cordmarked body. but also has Indian Hills-type stamped impressions.
23 AN EARLY FORT MEIGS PHASE FOOD PROCESSING FEATURE FROM 33SA8 AT THE LOWER RAPIDS OF THE SANDUSKY RIVER by Jonathan E. Bowen 419 Sandusky Ave. Fremont, Ohio 43420
Late in the summer of 1991 I uncovered hidescraper, made from the left femur of apparent that some early Fort Meigs a pit feature of the early Fort Meigs phase a young bear was also included. phase vessels are somewhat similar to at the Sandusky Avenue (33SA8) village It is apparent that fish and/or venison those of the later Indian Hills phase. If site, which is located at the foot of the was probably being smoked for later use. one is not careful, the mixture of deposits lower rapids of the Sandusky River in The fact that the deer bones found in the may be suspected where none exists. Fremont, Ohio. The co-occurrance of grit pit are mostly foot elements, along with In my dissertation (Bowen 1992), I con and shell-tempered Fort Meigs Notched the arrowpoints, endscrapers, and worn- cluded that, at the beginning of the Fort Applique pottery within the pit are diag out bone beamer suggests that deer may Meigs phase (ca. A.D. 1450-1500), corn nostic of the early Fort Meigs phase. have been brought here for hide prepara consumption declined and the importance While Stothers and Graves' (1985) model tion and meat preservation. Fish may of hunting increased. Fort Meigs phase ar places this pit feature at about A.D. 1400, have been smoked here as well. rowpoints are much more abundant than my own model (Bowen 1992) suggests a Two major questions remain. What was those of the preceeding Wolf phase, both date of about A.D. 1500. Although this fea the function of the encampment at 33SA8 within village sites and throughout the ture yielded massive amounts of charcoal during the early Fort Meigs phase? So far, landscape. Cowan (1992) found a similar suitable for radiocarbon dating, I have no no other materials or features from this increase in the relative numbers of arrow- plans to submit any for such assays, as precise time span have been uncovered at points in late Fort Ancient sites in south the current uncertainty of only 100 years the site. This suggests that, at the begin western Ohio. To the northeast, in Ontario, would not be resolved through the applica ning of the Fort Meigs phase, a special Fitzgerald (1992) noted a marked increase tion of this expensive technology. ized fishing/deer hunting camp was main in deer hunting at about the same time. The pit feature was circular, with a flat tained here, at least for a single episode. Apparently the subsistence shift experi bottom. It was 70 cm in diameter and 50 Excavations at 33SA8 show that it had not enced in north-central Ohio was much cm deep, although truncated by a plow- been occupied since the middle Wolf more widespread. The ongoing analysis of zone. The bottom of the pit contained a 15 phase, at least 50 years earlier. On the the floral and faunal remains from this cm layer of small carbonized logs, each other hand, a major settlement (village) ex early Fort Meigs phase food preparation about 5-8 cm in diameter. Apparently the isted here by the middle of the Fort Meigs pit at 33SA8 will increase our understand wood had been dead for a long time when phase, a few years after this feature was ing of this process. it was burned, as the logs show extensive used (see Bowen n.d.). I conclude that, at insect burrows. The sides and bottom of the start of the Fort Meigs phase a deer REFERENCES CITED the pit showed evidence of exposure to hunting/fishing camp was present at Bowen, Jonathan E. extreme heat, so the logs were probably 33SA8, just prior to the establishment of a 1992 The Late Prehistory of Northwestern burned right where they were found. A 15 major settlement which may have been Ohio. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, cm layer of fist-size limestone cobbles occupied nearly continuously from A.D. Dept. of Anthropology, The Ohio State available from the adjacent Sandusky 1525 through A.D. 1600-1625. University, Columbus, Ohio. River had been placed on top of the logs. The other major question is seasonality. n.d. An Overview of Western Basin Late Finally, the top 20 cm of the pit was filled The virtual absence of spring-spawning Woodland Occupations at the Foot of with refuse (Fig. 1). species which run in massive numbers in the Lower Rapids of the Sandusky River. The evidence suggests that, sometime the adjacent river (walleye, redhorse, Manuscript submitted to the Ohio around A.D. 1400-1500, a pit was dug on white bass) suggest that this feature was Archaeologist. a bluff overlooking the foot of the lower used later than the beginning of June. Cowan, C. Wesley rapids of the Sandusky River and the The clams indicate that it was earlier than 1992 The Dawn of History and the Demise of head of Brady's Island. Small logs, long December. the Fort Ancient Cultures of the Middle dead and perhaps somewhat rotten, I would like to address one potential Ohio Valley. Paper presented at the 57th were ignited in the bottom of the pit, and point of criticism before it is levelled. The annual meeting of the Society for were then covered with a layer of lime shell-tempered rimsherd in Figure 8, b American Archaeology, Pittsburgh. stone cobbles. After some foodstuff was superficially resembles specimens of the Fitzgerald, William processed, possible through smoking, later (ca. A.D. 1600) Indian Hills phase. 1992 Neutral Iroquois Transformation: A.D. the upper portion of the pit was filled with However, a similar grit-tempered vessel 1450-1650. Paper presented at the 57th trash. This refuse included Delaware was recovered from mortuary context annual meeting of the Society for chert chippage, preforms, points, and just outside of the early Fort Meigs phase American Archaeology, Pittsburgh. scrapers (Figs. 2-4), fragments of at least village at Miller's Ridge (33SA65). The Stothers, David. M., and James R. Graves nine pottery vessels (Figs. 5-8), huge other vessels from this interment area 1985 The Prairie Peninsula Co-Tradition: An quantities of fish remains (including a lot were all of the early Fort Meigs phase as Hypothesis for Hopewellian to Upper of smallmouth/largemouth bass), a quan well. Also, similar sherds have been Mississippian Continuity. Archaeology of tity of deer feet, and a few clams. A sin found at the initial Fort Meigs phase vil Eastern North America 13: 153-175. gle worn-out "beamer", or draw knife-like lage at Blue Banks (33SA10). Thus, it is
24 PROFILE LOOKING NORTH (32 cm plow-zone removed)
older Wolf refuse material (bone, flint, pottery) phase midden
heat-altered limestone cobbles
carbonized small logs Fig. 2 (Bowen) Failed Delaware Chert Preforms. yellow sand yellow sand 20 centimeters I I
Fig. 1 (Bowen) Early Fort Meigs Phase Food Preparation Pit from 33SA8.
Fig. 4 (Bowen) Delaware Chert Arrow Points.
Fig. 3 (Bowen) Delaware Chert Scrapers.
Fig. 6 (Bowen) Shell-tempered Pottery, a, notched applique with strap handle and trailed incising; b, notched applique with virtical finger impressions.
Fig. 5 (Bowen) Grit-tempered Pottery, a-b, notched applique with tool impressions; c, notched applique.
Fig. 8 (Bowen) Shell-tempered Pottery, a, incised Parker Festooned Fig. 7 (Bowen) Shell-tempered Pottery, a, notched applique with faint with vertical punctates; b, notched applique with double tool trailed incising; b, notched applique with trailed incising. impressions on lip and sinuous punctates.
25 DELAWARE CHERT by Robert N. Converse
Shown are points from all Ohio cultures material is found in the Columbus and exploited by nearly every prehistoric group made of Delaware chert. This earth colored Delaware limestone formations and was in the state.
26 i?
«•w•
P/afe 7 (Holzapfel) Midewiwin boards. These two boards are from a group of four similar boards carried in an otter skin bag collected in upper Wisconsin before 1900. Collection of Steve Fuller, Wooster, Ohio. MIDEWIWIN: A CHIPPEWA CEREMONY by Elaine Holzapfel 104 E. Lincoln Greenville, Ohio
"In the Me-da-we rite is incorporated learns the use of poisons, in case it be when the ancestors of the Chippewa most that is ancient among them - songs comes necessary to punish an offender. lived near the Atlantic Ocean. and traditions that have descended, not According to Frances Densmore, Richard Ackley, a Chippewa living in orally, but in hieroglyphics, for at least a Midewiwin incorporates belief in a previ Greenville, Ohio, explains that the small long line of generations." ous state of existence, does not use the boards in figures 3 & 4 were used in the So wrote a Chippewa, William Warren, term Great Spirit, and teaches that wrong ceremony. An elder of the tribe who was in 1853 in his only book, History of the doing inevitably reacts upon the trans also a priest interpreted the pictographs Ojibways. He was discussing Midewiwin gressor. She (Densmore) noted the gentle carved into the boards. These pic (pronounced Mu-DAY-wi-win), a Chippewa voices, patience, and courtesy of those tographs served as mnemonic devices, ceremony probably practiced since prehis who had been trained in Midewiwin. assisting the elder's memory in reciting tory. The Chippewas, also called Ojibways, Densmore reported that the Chippewas the ancient stories or songs for use in are a large tribe who live mainly in the Lake valued the wild pea (lathyrus venosus healing. The carvings are therefore Superior region. Their distant relatives the muhl) above all other herbs. Hunters and known as memory boards or prescription Potawatomies, the Ottawas, and the warriors carried the dried root of wild pea sticks. The use of pictographs or hiero Menominees also use this ceremony or rolled in birch bark. It was said to bring glyphics denotes the Chippewas as one similar ceremonies. about a positive outcome from any of the few native American groups to use The purposes of Midewiwin are three: predicament and also served as a dress a form of writing. to instruct the member in rules for living ing for wounds. William Warren says that Midewiwin is so that he or she will live the full term of Copper, locally available in the Lake "known as the rite wherewith life is re life, to provide knowledge of herbs used Superior area, was used in the medicine stored and prolonged" and that many in healing, and to preserve and perpetu rites. However, it was considered sacred Ojibways lived "with the weight of over a ate the history of the tribe. A man or and was never used for common purposes. hundred winters on their backs." Richard woman advances through the eight de Midewiwin relates the tradition of his Ackley's grandparents were members of grees of the society by receiving instruc toric as well as prehistoric migrations of Midewiwin. His grandfather lived until he tions which constitute each degree. In the tribe. A small white sea-shell, the em was 97, and his grandmother lived to the one of the highest degrees the member blem of Midewiwin, symbolizes a time age of 103.
27 One who aspired to membership in this Midewiwin is sometimes called a se Midewiwin sticks. And special thanks to society prepared himself throughout the cret society. Warren himself said, "This Richard Ackley for his patience in an winter by processing choice meats and se important custom is still shrouded in swering my questions and for the infor lecting desirable items from the traders, all mystery, even to my own eyes....and I mative drawings and photographs he of which he would use as offerings. During frankly acknowledge that I stand as yet, generously provided. this time he chose his four initiators from as it were, on the threshold of the Me-da- among the wisest elders. Then in the we lodge." REFERENCES spring when the hunting parties returned During the 1950's Midewiwin leaders Ackley, Richard from their winter camps, people from many rejected the use of peyote, a narcotic de 1992 Personal communication. villages gathered and built the Grand rived from cactus. They believed that this Densmore, Frances Medicine Lodge which they would use for substance would be detrimental to the 1929 Chippewa Customs. Bureau of American the two to five day ceremony. This large objectives of the society. Ethnology, Bulletin 86, Washington. wigwam was for ceremonial use only. The Midewiwin continues to be practiced in Warren, William W. Me-da-we rite was a festive occasion, and certain areas of the North today. 1885 History of the Ojibway People. Reprinted everyone dressed in his finest and most 1984. Minnesota Historical Press, colorful clothing. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS St. Paul. Many thanks to Steve Fuller for supply ing the photographs of the otter bag and
Figure 1 (Holzapfel) William Warren, 1825-1853, author of History of the Figure 2 (Holzapfel) Richard Ackley, a Chippewa who lives in Greenville, Ojibways. He had intended to write a second book in which he would Ohio. He returns to northern Wisconsin to the Sokaogan Reservation further explain Midewiwin, but he died at the age of 28 of a lung several times a year to fish and visit family and friends. He explains that disorder. His paternal ancestors came over on the Mayflower, and his some of his ancestors were French, and it was from them that the name maternal ancestors were Chippewas from Minnesota. His sister, Mary Ackley was derived. Warren English, was principal interpreter for Frances Densmore from 1907 to 1921.
28 Figure 3 (Holzapfel) Memory boards or prescription sticks. According to Ackley these were made of soft wood such as cedar so that they could be easily incised. Certain types of these pictographs could be interpreted by most Chippewas, but the ones shown here are probably esoteric, intelligible only to the initiate. Densmore says, "The significance of these characters lies in their combination which produces a sequence of ideas." A circle, in less esoteric pictographs, could denote sky, earth, hill, lake, or bowl of food. Straight lines beside a wigwam designated the number of nights camped in that place. Small lines around a circle $& meant that plenty of food was found and the bones were discarded around the campfire. A loon or bear represented a member of that clan. Anything pictured upside-down was dead. These pictographs or hieroglyphics were quite possibly handed down from prehistory.
Figure 4 (Holzapfel) Each member of Midewiwin had his own medweyan or medicine bag. This one is made of otter.
29 Figure 5 (Holzapfel) Ackley family in 1922 at their home on the bank of Mole Lake in Wisconsin. Seated in front is Ackley's grandfather, DeWitt Ackley, Standing at left is his uncle, Willard LeRoy Ackley, who has just returned from spearing suckers. Richard Ackley is the baby in the cradleboard. The hoop at the top of the cradleboard served as a support for a blanket in winter for for a tin cloth in summer to protect the child's head from weather and insects.
Figure 6 (Holzapfel) Richard Ackley's grandmother, who lived to the age of 103. She had only an Indian name, with no Anglicized version.
30 Figure 7 (Holzapfel) Balsam fir. The fragrant boughs of this northern tree were used to loosely cover the Grand Medicine Lodge. Anyone could see what was going on inside without understanding the significance of the ceremony. These trees are imported into Ohio for another festive occasion - Christmas.
Figure 8 (Holzapfel) Eighteen-inch long model of Midewiwin Lodge, also called the Grand Medicine Lodge, built by Richard Ackley. This structure was always entered through the door facing east and exited from the door facing west. Some lodges were up to 200 feet long.
AtiDBWtWi'N ^P'^ Z.0D6-E
(L eofX/A>g ft-om Top 2A) S/h e)
o >o o 'of i
1 °O o o . o fg Fi'sti Unto d^Artf
Figure 9 (Holzapfel) Drawing by Richard Ackley which depicts the interior of the Grand Medicine Lodge. The circles represent areas where members of the various clans would be seated. The water drum was a hollowed basswood log, the cavity of which was filled with several inches of water. Densmore says that the purpose of this was to enable the drum to be heard at a great distance while remaining muted nearby. Ackley points out that the depth of the water was used to control and vary the tone of the drum.
31 MITIGATION OF THE BRADY RUN ROCKSHELTER 3: A MULTI-COMPONENT SITE IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO by Flora Church Archaeological Services Consultants 4620 Indianola Avenue Columbus, OH 43214
INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT SITE DESCRIPTION QUESTIONS Washington Township, Lawrence County, General Description The Brady Run Rockshelter 3 was dis Ohio is situated in the Unglaciated Brady Run Rockshelter 3 was situated covered during the survey of a proposed Allegheny Plateau of the Appalachian at 12.46 m above the unnamed intermit mining tract in Washington Township, Plateaus Province (Fenneman 1938, tent tributary and at a distance of 45.7 m Lawrence County, Ohio, in 1988 (Figure 1) Thornbury 1965). Brady Run rockshelter (150 ft) from it at a slope of 27%. The [Bush et al. 1988]. Later assessment of eroded out of the Allegheny series Clarion southern end was not roofed, while the the site revealed evidence of prehistoric sandstone sandwiched between the lower extreme northern portion consisted mostly occupation to a depth of at least 50 cm Kittanning coal (820' elevation) and of rockfall over the rock floor. Thus, the below surface. A wide range of cultural Vanport limestone (750') (Lamborn 1951; potential living area was reduced to the materials was recovered, including pottery Stout, VerSteeg, and Lamb 1968). central section, with an estimated floor diagnostic of the Late Woodland and/or It was located on the west side of a area of 26.7 sq m (32 sq yd). This area Late Prehistoric periods. One shallow north-south trending hollow drained by an had the deepest overhang, with a maxi hearth was also documented. intermittent tributary of Brady Run, a tribu mum width from shelter wall to dripline of The data recovery plan was designed to tary of Pine Creek, which flows into the about 2 m (6.6 ft). The height of the shelter address questions concerning regional Ohio River north of Greenup, Ohio. The within the living area from the present sur chronology, local settlement patterns, and northeast-facing slope, like the one con face to ceiling was 1.64 m (5.4 ft) or an economic activities. Based on previously taining Brady Run Rockshelter 3, were cov original height of 3.14 m (10.3 ft). Within recovered diagnostics, we proposed to ered with a Mixed Mesophytic forest cover. this area, 24% (7.2 sq m) was excavated. test the hypothesis that the site was the Beech-maple-and-tuliptree formed a domi result of seasonal transient occupations by nant forest association on the lower slope, Absolute Chronology mobile Late Woodland populations whose while chestnut and chestnut-oak pre Two charcoal samples were submitted existence was peripheral to emerging, dominated at higher elevations. Preliminary to Beta Analytic, Inc. for radiocarbon dat sedentary Late Prehistoric populations in paleobotanical analysis (Latimer 1989) ing. Sample 1 (Beta-35340) consisted of the major river valleys of the region. documented the presence of butternut, wood charcoal and nutshell from Feature This hypothesis is drawn from the work American chestnut, oak, hickory, pine fam 2, a small hearth located at 91 cm below of Prufer and Shane (1970), Prufer (1967), ily, and maples in the rockshelter deposits. the surface in Unit 1. The second sample and Prufer and McKenzie (1966), who ad (Beta-35341) consisted wholly of wood vanced an interpretation of two coeval SITE FORMATION: GEOMORPHOLOGY charcoal taken from Feature 3, another cultural groups-one Late Woodland and AND STRATIGRAPHY small hearth located at 30-40 cm below the other Late Prehistoric-existing side by The shelter was situated at an elevation surface. Feature 2 dated to the Late side in the region. According to this idea, of 238 m (780 ft) to 244 m (800 ft) AMSL Archaic, with a range of B.C. 2280-1890 at intrusive Late Prehistoric populations from (Lamborn 1951, Stout, Ver Steeg, and one sigma (calibrated with Stuiver and the Mississippi Valley replaced local Late Lamb 1968, Grimes 1989). The sandstone Pearson's 1986 CALIB program), while Woodland populations in the major river eroded down to a limestone floor; several Feature 3 yielded a date of A.D. 134 or valleys of southern Ohio. The newcomers large slabs of limestone also formed a one Early Woodland. were characterized by a distinctive mate meter wall at the fore of the shelter beneath rial culture of shell-tempered ceramics the overhang, creating a windbreak for the Feature Description and triangular projectile points and by shelter's original inhabitants (Figure 2). In all, four features were located during sedentary villages supported by corn agri Behind this natural enclosure, soils accu the mitigation, and one surface feature culture. Late Woodland groups were dis mulated until the windbreak was buried to was excavated during previous assess placed to the marginal, unglaciated hilly a depth of 20 cm in places. Four general ment. The features uniformly represent regions, where they maintained a hunting ized cultural strata were identified, distin shallow hearths. Radiocarbon dates and gathering way of life. guished by vertical distributions of artifacts and cultural diagnostics suggest a range This interpretation of cultural intrusion and features as these corresponded with from the Late Archaic to the Late Pre has been challenged by several recent observable differences in soil color, texture, historic for the occupation of Brady Run studies of cultural change during the tran and inclusions. Diagnostic artifacts and ra Rockshelter 3. sition in time from Late Woodland to Late diocarbon dates supported the separation Prehistoric in West Virginia (Graybill 1981), of the shelter deposits into these strata. Summary of Ceramic Assemblage Kentucky (Rafferty 1974), and Ohio In addition, eight 50 cm sq shovel test At least three classes of ceramics were (Church 1987). Collectively, these studies units were placed at staggered intervals distinguished. A series of shell-tempered have proposed the development of Late on the slope below the shelter to test for ceramics was recovered from the Late Prehistoric cultures from indigenous Late the possibility of downslope movement of Woodland/Late Prehistoric stratum at 0-15 Woodland populations, uniformly rejecting shelter deposits, and/or a prehistoric mid cm below surface, exclusive to Unit A, ad the hypothesis of cultural intrusion as the den. However, the steepness of the slope jacent to the rear wall of the shelter. The sole agent of change. The Brady Run mitigated against anthropogenic or natural presence of shell-tempering is diagnostic Rockshelter 3 provided an opportunity to soil development in this area; two flakes of the Transitional Late Prehistoric to Late test these conclusions with data from a were recovered and some charcoal flecks Prehistoric cultural periods (post A.D. 900; "hinterland" site. were noted. Church 1987).
32 A second class of relatively thin cord dence of microwear polish, identifying ac the shelter was utilized as a fall hunting marked, grit-tempered sherds (Plate 1A-C) tivities that were mostly domestic in na and nut collecting camp throughout the was also recovered from this top stratum, ture and pertained to food preparation Late Archaic, with deposits accumulating although additional such sherds were dis and hide processing. One bone/antler to a depth of one meter. The Early Wood tributed deeper in an area of the excava working tool indicates that tool manufac land period, however, based on tool diver tion adjacent to the dripline and disturbed ture also was occurring. In fact, eight sity, amount of debitage, and diversity of by rodent burrowing. The unusual thinness pieces of worked animal bone were recov botanical and faunal resources, suggests of these sherds (mean thickness = 4mm) is ered; four fragments from the Late Archaic the most intensive use of the shelter oc inconsistent for published data on Late levels; an awl and two fragments from the curred during this period of occupation. By Woodland ceramics from the region; how Early Woodland component, and one the Late Woodland to Late Prehistoric peri ever, they clearly do not share attributes of worked deer metapodial from the Late ods, the shelter deposits had risen to com Middle or Early Woodland ceramics. On Woodland/Late Prehistoric levels. pletely cover the limestone windbreak at the basis of their location and the pres the fore of the shelter. At this point the ence of four rims which suggest a Late Faunal most sheltered portion was immediately Woodland period, it is felt that they may In terms of faunal material, white-tailed adjacent to the rear wall. Two triangular represent a late Late Woodland period. deer represented 74% of all identified taxa projectile points suggest an occupation Two thicker sherds are reminiscent of and 73% of maximum MNI, excluding between A.D. 800-1300, while the percent Late Woodland Peters or Chesser series gastropods. Other animals present in age of shell-tempering (27% of sherds for ceramics (Plate 1D). cluded dog, raccoon, eastern fox squirrel, the stratum) supports the latter end of this The third major class of ceramics is a gray squirrel, rock squirrel, cottontail, range as more accurately reflecting an thick limestone-tempered, heavy plainware striped skunk, rat, Eastern box turtle, early Late Prehistoric period occupation. associated with Feature 3 (Plate 2), which unidentified snake, and wild turkey, al Ceramics are distributed across the yielded a late Adena C-14 date. Thus, the though at least two other smaller birds available living space, while one-third of ceramics suggest Early Woodland, possi were present. After deer, the most com the chipped stone debitage clusters near a bly Late Woodland, and Late Prehistoric mon species were turtle and raccoon by hearth against the rear wall. The rest of the occupations of the rockshelter. NISP (number of identified specimens) debitage is dispersed across the general and MNI (minimum number of individuals). living area. Two expedient chipped stone Projectile Point Descriptions The striped skunk (a single tooth), rat, unifacial tools, one biface blank, and a The projectile point assemblage con snake, and snails were probably extra core were distributed across the east-west sists of 21 complete points and frag neous to the human occupation. Deer cross-section of the shelter living space. ments. Typed points are also diagnostic were more intensively represented in the Diagnostic projectile points cluster near of the Late Archaic, Early Woodland, and Late Archaic, followed by the Early Wood the rear wall while two Late Archaic points Late Woodland-Late Prehistoric periods land, then the Late Woodland/Late Pre were found in the dripline deposits along (Plate 3). historic strata. the outermost section of the shelter. A Points typed to the Late Woodland/Late Fully 50% of all bone recovered had minimal amount of deer bone, as well as Prehistoric periods include a Levanna tri been burned. At the same time, only 26 turkey bone, was also dispersed around angular point with the tip missing, dated fragments (1 %) had been cut or hacked. the hearth. One utilized flake tool for to the transitional Late Woodland/Late An examination of deer elements sug scraping antler or bone was documented Prehistoric period about AD 900 (Church gested that in all cultural strata butchering through microwear analysis. This low den 1988; Justice 1987). The second is also a was taking place off-site. Instead, por sity of artifacts and animal bone, the low triangular point, this one similar to the tions of the deer-mostly hind and fore- tool diversity, and the thinness of the stra Madison point type (Justice 1987:224- quarters-were brought to the shelter. The tum all suggest an ephemeral occupation, 226); straight-based triangles such as this particular faunal assemblage present at the both for the Late Woodland and the Late are common to the early Late Prehistoric Brady Run Rockshelter 3 suggests that oc Prehistoric periods. period (Church 1988) and are commonly cupation was limited to non-winter months, distributed across the Eastern Woodlands. strongly favoring late summer to fall. Chronology and Regional Settlement Patterns Introduction Stone Tools Archaeobotanical An analysis of archaeological sites with A small number of other stone tools There appears to have been a focus on known temporal components in Lawrence, was recovered, including three whole and the use of nuts, based on archaeobotani Jackson, and Gallia counties was under seven biface fragments, nine unifacial im cal analysis by Annette Ericksen. Hickory taken in order to place the Brady Run plements, thirteen cores, and twenty un- was most abundant; however, black wal Rockshelter components in a larger re worked flint nodules. A poor quality local nut, butternut, acorn, and hazelnut were gional setting. Data on site location, size, flint, most likely from the Vanport lime also present. The identification of wood and temporal components were collected stone, accounted for 85% of debitage. charcoal specimens indicated that no from the OAI data base and from data Upper Mercer/Zaleski and unknown flints preferences were made as to the quality compiled by the Central Ohio Archaeo were identified at 7.22% and 6.5%, re of woods collected except that species in logical Survey. Late Archaic, Early Wood spectively, with Columbus/Delaware chert close proximity were utilized more fre land, and Late Prehistoric groups are al accounting for an additional 1.5%. quently (i.e., pine over other hardwoods). most equally represented in the region in A hematite celt was recovered from The most common botanical components terms of known components of sites. the Early Woodland stratum (Plate 4), (nutshell and wood charcoal) were present The distribution of sites by topographic and a sandstone pestle (Plate 5) was re at all sampled levels and were ubiquitous landform location indicates a propensity covered from the Late Archaic deposits throughout the shelter. No Eastern Agri for Late Archaic sites to be located by a at 90 cm b.s. cultural Complex seeds were present, al ratio of 2:1 in a stream valley as opposed Microwear analysis, performed by John though 12 fragments of squash (Cucur- to the uplands. The majority of upland P. Nass, was restricted to 10% of the bita) rind was identified from Feature 3 in sites are found on hill/ridgetops. This par complete, unretouched and unutilized the Early Woodland occupation. tition between valley and upland loca flakes chosen from stratigraphic levels tions is also reflected in site size, as Late within three test units which contained ei SUMMARY Archaic valley sites average 1.6 ha, but ther features or diagnostic projectile Artifact densities, distributions, and fau the two hill/ridgetop sites represent little point/knives. Six flakes produced evi nal and botanical analysis suggest that more than findspots at 5.5 sq m. One
33 rockshelter has a site size given as 7.5 ha, pattern swings in the other direction dur REFERENCES CITED probably the result of an encoding error. ing the Late Woodland, when 2.5 upland Brose, David S. sites were present for every one valley 1989 The Squaw Rockshelter (33 Cu 34): A Stratified This dichotomy between site size and Archaic Deposit in Cuyahoga County. Kirtlandia landform location strongly supports an in site. Site size in the valley ranges from 1.1 44:17-53. terpretation of different functions for valley ha to 4.4 ha. Upland sites of 0.2 ha to 0.8 Bush, David R., et al. and upland sites in the local Late Archaic ha are distributed between rockshelters 1988 A Cultural Resource Investigation of a Proposed settlement system, perhaps between large and open hill/ridgetops. Surface Mining Permit Application 990 in Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. valley basecamps versus smaller, more This basic Late Woodland distribution of David R. Bush, Inc., Submitted to Thomas specialized upland resource extraction sites remains relatively stable into the Late Belville, Ashland, Kentucky. sites. By topographic location and size, Prehistoric period in terms of the ratio of Church, Flora the Brady Run Rockshelter falls squarely valley versus upland sites. Only two sin 1987 An Inquiry into the Transition from Late Woodland to Late Prehistoric Cultures in the within this latter category. The shelter ap gle-component Late Prehistoric sites in Central Scioto Valley Ohio, Circa A.D. 500 to pears to have functioned as a repeatedly the region have size data; these vary to A.D. 1250. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, used loci for deer hunting and nut collect the extreme from 0.7 ha to 4,000 ha. This Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State ing in the late summer/fall seasons. Its latter figure is way out of line and may be University. size precluded occupation by more than a the result of an encoding error in the OAI 1988 Seriation of Late Woodland and Late Prehistoric Sites Using Base-shape of Triangular Points. few individuals, although the evidence is database. However, the distribution of up West Virginia Archeologist 40(2):60-61. not clear as to the nature of this group. land sites is interesting. Rockshelter sites Fenneman, Nevin M. The presence of numerous other occupied outnumber open hill/ridgetop sites 2:1, 1938 Physiography of Eastern United States. McGraw- rockshelters within the immediate vicinity suggesting a more specialized resource Hill, New York. Graybill, Jeffrey R. makes it possible that other members of a procurement pattern involving the uplands 1981 The Eastern Periphery of Fort Ancient (A.D. local band were dispersed about the than was present in preceding periods. A 1050-1650): A Diachronic Approach to catchment. Brose (1989) has suggested a parallel pattern of increasing specialization Settlement Variability. Unpublished Ph.D. similar pattern for Early and Middle Archaic in uplands usage by Late Prehistoric pop dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Washington. occupations along the Chagrin River and ulations has been documented for the Grimes, Chris J. its tributaries in northern Ohio. However, middle Scioto Valley (Church 1987). The 1989 A Cultural Resource Assessment Survey of the the nearby Buffalo Creek rockshelter illus focal resource attraction appears to have Brady Run Rockshelter 3 (33 Le 165), trates that such a dispersal would have been deer, with only a shallow surface cul Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Archaeological Services Consultants, Inc. been site-dependent. Located approxi tural deposit present for this period of oc Submitted to P & L Systems, Columbus, Ohio. mately 10 km southeast on the Wayne cupation at Brady Run. Justice, Noel D. National Forest, this shelter has an area of 1987 Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of the In conclusion, our original hypothesis 1182 sq m; this large, dry cave could have Midcontinental and Eastern United States. can be rejected; that is, the basic Late easily accommodated an entire group of Indiana University Press, Bloomington. Woodland pattern of site distribution be Lamborn, Raymond E. people. Surface examination and repair of tween stream valleys and upland locations 1951 Limestones of Eastern Ohio. ODNR, Division of vandalism by forest service personnel remains essentially unchanged into the Geological Survey, Fourth Series, Bulletin 49, indicated the presence of at least Late Columbus, Ohio. Late Prehistoric period, although upland Archaic and Late Prehistoric components Latimer, Annette E. site locations become more specialized in 1989 The Paleobotanical Assemblage from Phase III at the Buffalo Creek shelter. the form of rockshelter usage. This differ Assessment of the Brady Run Rockshelter 3 (33 ence may be more apparent than real as Le 165). In A Cultural Resource Assessment Survey of the Brady Run Rockshelter 3, by Chris Early Woodland many rockshelters are known to have J. Grimes, Archaeological Services Consultants, During the Early Woodland period, the been occupied in the area, although the Inc., Columbus, Ohio. pattern of site location indicates a nearly temporal nature of their occupation re Prufer, Olaf H. mains unknown (Skinner and Bier 1986; 1967 The Scioto Valley Archaeological Survey. \n equal proportion of valley to upland sites Studies in Ohio Archaeology, edited by O.H. at a ratio of 1:1.2. The settlement pattern Dr. Jeffrey Reichwein, 1990 pers. com.). Prufer and D.H. McKenzie, pp. 267-328, appears to be more complex, however, Late Woodland utilization of the area, in Western Reserve University Press. with the previous pattern of large valley terms of site location and size, can be Prufer, Olaf H. and Douglas H. McKenzie sites and smaller upland sites augmented seen as a variation on a pattern estab 1966 Peters Cave: Two Woodland Occupations in Ross County, Ohio. Ohio Journal of Science by a third class of small valley sites. In ad lished in the Late Archaic, a pattern which 66(3):233-253. dition, the size of the larger valley sites is continued into the Late Prehistoric. In no Prufer, Olaf H. and Orrin C. Shane III now four times greater than that for Late sense can the Late Woodland be consid 1970 Blain Village and the Fort Ancient Tradition in Archaic sites (the average = 7.4 ha as op ered peripheral or the Late Prehistoric a Ohio. Kent State University Press, Kent. posed to 1.6 ha), suggesting greater pop radical change in the prehistoric settle Rafferty, Janet C. 1974 The Development of the Fort Ancient Tradition in ulation density. ment history of the region. Northern Kentucky. Unpublished Ph.D. disserta Thus, the Brady Run site appears to In conclusion, the Brady Run Rock tion. Department of Anthropology, University of shelter 3 is a testament to the potential in Washington. have been part of an Early Woodland set Skinner, Shaune M. and Don Bier tlement system with villages located in the formation to be obtained from the smallest 1986 Cultural Resource Survey on 4,536 Acres of valleys, and satellite resource procurement of upland shelter sites in the Unglaciated Wayne National Forest Ironton District, Gallia, sites situated both on the higher valley ter Appalachian Plateau region of south Lawrence, and Scioto Counties, Ohio. Report eastern Ohio. Clearly the proximity of the submitted to USDA Forest Service. races and in the hills. Stout, Wilbur, Karl Ver Steeg, and G.F. Lamb area to the broad floodplain of the Ohio 1968 Geology of Water in Ohio. ODNR, Division of Late Prehistoric Settlement System River indicates the accessibility of this Geological Survey, Bulletin 44. The pattern of occupation in the region region to prehistoric populations; the Stuiver, M. and B. Becker demonstration of occupations from the 1986 Calib Program. Radiocarbon 28:86-90. during the Middle Woodland indicates that Thornbury, William D. sites were more numerous in the valley Early Archaic through the Late Prehistoric 1965 Regional Geomorphology of the United States. than uplands, and valley sites were smaller periods shows that the resources to be John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. (0.1 - 3.7 ha), on the order of half the size found in this region were highly attractive of the large Early Woodland sites. This throughout prehistory.
34 Figure 2 (Church) Composite cross-section Figure 1 (Church) General map of diagram of the shelter through the occupied project location. area looking north.
LAWRENCE COUNTY 44
Plate 2 (Church) Early Woodland ceramic sherd.
Plate 1 (Church) (A-C): Cordmarked, grit-tempered sherds, and (D) Possible Plate 4 (Church) Hematite Peters sherds. celt from the Brady Run Rockshelter 3. ' I ^^ KjLi* _^^k
5 cm 1 2 in.
Plate 5 (Church) Sand stone pestle from the Brady Run Rockshelter 3.
Plate 3 (Church) Typed projectile points: (A-B) Late Archaic; (C) Early Woodland; (D-E) Late Woodland/Late Prehistoric.
35 MOUNT PLEASANT II - THE SEQUEL by Stephen J. Parker 1859 Frank Drive Lancaster, Ohio
In keeping with the current fashion in the these depressions were possibly the re member of the Standing Stone Chapter motion picture industry this article is enti mains of the mounds previously reported and participated in both of the Mount tled MOUNT PLEASANT II - THE SEQUEL. by Loveberry, Andrews and Baker. The Pleasant excavations. He verified that The original article, written by Lar Hothem, investigation was an attempt to prove this large depression was the remains of appeared in the Winter 1988 issue of the whether or not these depressions were the mound he knew as a boy. Ohio Archaeologist. Both reports concern the remains of mounds. Four 10 foot squares were excavated the excavation of Mount Pleasant by mem The first depression was large, with a while investigating the smaller of the two bers of the Standing Stone Chapter of the diameter of approximately 55 feet. There depressions. By the time the dig was com Archaeological Society of Ohio. was a 6 inch high and 18 inch wide pleted in this area, bedrock was reached at Mount Pleasant is a gigantic sand ridge of earth which surrounded most of the depth of 30V2 inches. stone outcropping which is a landmark the depression, giving it a saucer shape As the excavation progressed many his in Lancaster, Ohio. It is located in Rising appearance. toric and prehistoric artifacts were recov Park and rises about 280 feet above the The second depression was smaller ered. The prehistoric artifacts included a surrounding city. Standing Stone was the and reminiscent of the old time excava polished stone, bone fragments, pottery Indian name given to Mount Pleasant. tions, where a hold was dug down into shards, projectile points and other worked The first excavation by the SSC-ASO the center of a mound. Only in this case, pieces of flint. Al these artifacts were took place in July and August 1987. Two the hole had removed the entire mound. found outside of the depression. Most of planned excavation areas of the 1987 dig It was very obvious that this depression the projectile points were broken but, in were not accomplished due to time limita was a prior excavation of some sort. This terestingly, they included the range of tions and the growth of poison ivy. These depression was about 12 feet in diameter lanceolate, Stringtown lanceolate, Archaic, two areas were depressions which were and 28 inches deep. Adena and Hopewell types. (Fig. 2). This thought to be the remains of mounds Although both depressions were exca range is compatible with the projectile which were supposedly located on the top vated simultaneously they will be re points recovered in the 1987 excavation of of Mount Pleasant according to local ported separately. The excavation uti Mount Pleasant. The 121 pieces of pottery knowledge in the Lancaster area. lized 10 foot squares and was dug by were Late Woodland and included 3 rim This knowledge probably came from hand using trowels and hoes. All exca shards. Some of the 98 bone fragments Clarance Loveberry's letter to E. 0. vated earth was sifted through a VA inch may have been human. Randall dated December 22, 1897, which mesh sieve. One of the features uncovered was a in part stated: "Recently two trips were A small portion of the large depression series of stones which had been placed made..., one to Portsmouth, the other to was excavated in the 1987 dig. This time in a circle or ring (Fig. 3). These stones Lancaster. At the latter place evidences one complete 10 foot square was exca ranged from fist size to about 18 inches were found of a prehistoric village site, on vated. The square was located so that it in diameter. There were a couple of open top of Mt. Pleasant, and located two would allow for excavation outside the ings in this circle of stones; whether they mounds on this immense mass of rock." ridge, the ridge itself, and inside the were intentional or caused by previous Another mention of a mound on top of ridge, which was part of the actual de excavators will probably never be known. Mount Pleasant is in James Murphy's pression. The work proceeded from the Another interesting feature was the re "Archaeological History of the Hocking outside, through the ridge and into the mains of a very hot fire found at the Valley" where it is stated: "Atop historic, or depression. The depth of the excavation bedrock level. Upon the bedrock was a 1 at least romantic Mount Pleasant, Andrews was 13 inches. inch thick layer of yellow clay. Above that found the remains of a stone mound." All of the prehistoric artifacts (flint was a 4 inch thick layer of a red clay-like 83 year old Harley Baker (Rockbridge, chips, arrowheads, pottery shards, ham substance. Over that was a 2 inch thick Ohio) remembers playing on Mount mer stones and fire cracked rocks) were layer of charcoal. A good charcoal sam Pleasant as a "little kid" of 8 or 9 years old found on the outside of the ridge and ple was removed from this feature. in 1915-16. He recalls there was a pile of nothing was found inside. The ridge itself Unfortunately, a large piece of glass was rocks about 30 feet across and 3-3^ feet was comprised mostly of fist-sized sand found about 6 inches from where the high. The stones were irregular in shape stones (Fig. 1). Visual inspection indicated charcoal sample was removed. Because and some were too big for a kid to lift. The that this small ridge circumvented the the charcoal sample was recovered so pile of rocks was located 70-80 feet from whole depression at one time. A probe deep and under what was thought to be the west edge of the mountain. Mr. Baker was used for examination and stones undisturbed area, it was decided to have also said the pile of rocks was where the were found nearly all the way around the it radiocarbon dated. swampy concave area is today. The area depression. Also in this feature were several red was always wet and swampy, even when Several historic artifacts were found in pottery shards and it was suggested that the rocks were there. this part of the excavation, including an perhaps this was where the pottery was On March 12, 1988, twenty members 1829 penny. The more interesting indian made. Charcoal with this type of red pot of the Standing Stone Chapter - ASO re artifacts included an Adena projectile tery from the 1987 dig was radiocarbon turned to Mount Pleasant to begin their point and several pieces of "red" Middle dated 840 A.D. second excavation. By the time the dig Woodland pottery. It was also suggested that this feature was completed on May 14, a total of Although the excavation of this large many have been the remains of a crema thirty chapter members had participated depression was limited, it was concluded tion since three bone fragments were found in the project. that this was the remains of the large there. However, right from the very begin The purpose of the excavation was to stone mound. Mr. Baker's description ning, a lot of bone fragments were recov investigate two depressions which were and location of the mound certainly sup ered as the excavation proceeded. The situated atop Mount Pleasant. It was felt ports this conclusion. Mr. Baker is a bone fragments were outside the depres-
36 sion and very close to the surface on the The carbon dating results were disap Third, thanks to all the members of southeast side. It was concluded that pointing as the results were 190+/-70 BRD. Standing Stone Chapter who participated whoever did the original excavation did With 1950 being Present, the dates cal in the excavation, with special thanks to not know or care that they were digging culate to 1690-1760-1830. ChristopheITr Don Casto who did the complete cata- into a cremation. Consequently, their Gist, in January 1751, was the first white loging of over 1,200 artifacts recovered earth and bone were removed from the man to visit what is now Lancaster. from the 1988 excavation. bottom of the pit and thrown on top of Mount Pleasant has been visited for In conclusion, the Standing Stone the ground surrounding the hole. This years by the white settlers, but it seems Chapter - ASO is satisfied and convinced would explain why bone fragments were unlikely they would have had a reason toD that the two depression are the remains of found so close to the surface. build a fire so deep (30V? inches). It is two mounds located atop Mount Pleasant. This feature was partially located under plausible that the earlier excavators some a couple of trees and the roots prevented how contaminated the charcoal sample REFERENCES the complete excavation of this feature. that was used for dating. Remember the Baker, Harley The Chapter had stipulated that no trees piece of glass which was found in the3 Personal Communication would be destroyed during the excava bottom of this feature? The original exca Bowen, Jonathan E. tion, thus it was not fully investigated. vators did get this deep. Who they werei, Personal Communication The Chapter concluded that this small when they dug, and what they found wilIlI Covers, Robert N. depression, like the large one, was the re probably never be known. At least, for Personal Communication mains of a mound. The stone circle cer the present, the Chapter has no recordsS 1973 Ohio Flint Types.The Archaeological tainly was not a natural occurance. This or information concerning the destruction1 Society of Ohio, Columbus. was the only place in over 900 square feet of either mound. Goslin, Charles R. excavated (87 & 88 digs) where a feature Some notes of thanks must be givenI 1980 Crossroads and Fence Corners, Vol II, like this occurred. In fact, very few rocks here: Fairfield Heritage Association. P 76 of this size were found any where else; First, thanks to the ArchaeologicaIlI Hothem, Lar they were all together in this one area, if Society of Ohio. The ASO, through its3 1988 The Mount Pleasant Excavation, Ohio someone randomly dug a hole on top of carbon dating assistance program, un Archaeologist, 38(1):12-15 Mount Pleasant, the odds of choosing this derwrote the expense for the radiocarbon1 Loveberry, Clarence spot in the middle of a stone circle, would dating. 1898 Ohio Archaeological and Historical be astronomical. The original excavators Second, thanks to Dave Bogear, Publications, Vol VI. Columbus, P 424 may have selected this particular spot be Superintendent of Parks and the Boardi Murphy, James lieving it was a mound. of Directors, Department of Parks andi 1975 An Archaeological History of the Hocking The feature with the fire-burned red Recreation for the City of Lancaster for Valley, Oberlin Printing, Inc., P 52 clay and bone fragments indicates the giving the Standing Stone Chapter per possibility of a cremation which, again, mission to excavate. suggests the presence of a mound.
Fig. 1 (Parker) Fist sized sandstones found in the ridge surrounding the larger depression.
Fig. 3 (Parker) Stone circle or ring. The original Fig. 2 (Parker) Projectile points. Lanceolate, excavation was done in Archaic, Adena, Hopewell. the center of this circle.
37 A CYLINDRICAL PESTLE FROM DARKE COUNTY by Elaine Holzapfel 104 E. Lincoln Greenville, Ohio
I found this pestle in a plowed field on have also been called corn grinders, but long and weighed ten pounds. Some are the north edge of Greenville, Ohio. It was cylindrical pestles date from the Archaic fairly round in cross-section, but many lying on the surface approximately forty and thus precede the cultivation of corn are flattened in cross-section, which feet west of a small stream, a tributary of by several thousand years. Their function gives them the appearance of having Greenville Creek. The pestle, which mea is not understood. Bob Converse says been pushed rather than rolled. A few sures nine inches long and two and one- that the majority are made of quartzite, others have polish on both ends, which half inches in diameter, is made of pink limestone, or sandstone, although he has possibly suggests another kind of use. granite or quartzite. The area is not now occasionally seen examples made of There are even indications that they under cultivation, so I have no other site granite gneiss or slate. Because the raw might have been held vertically and used material from there yet. material from which these pestles are like a potato masher, perhaps to pulver In the photograph a difference in tex made varies from igneous rock as hard ize nuts, roots, berries, or seeds. Cylin ture and configuration can be discerned as granite to sedimentary rock as soft as drical pestles are not common tools in at each end. This could be because the slate, the type of stone used gives no Ohio (Converse 1973). pestle was broken and reworked, or it clue to their function. could be the result of a specific kind of Most are well-made and exhibit no bat REFERENCE use. tering or striations. The average size is Converse, Robert N. Cylindrical pestles are sometimes around ten inches long, although I exam 1973 Ohio Stone Tools. Archaeological called roller pestles, but there is seldom ined a limestone cylindrical pestle re Society of Ohio. any indication they were rolled. They cently which measured eighteen inches
Fig. 1 (Holzapfel) Two views of cylindrical pestle found in Greenville, Ohio.
38 AN OUTSTANDING ADEAN SPEAR by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio
Adena points are fairly common in Ohio but large specimens over five inches long are scarce. Most of the large showy Adenas are made of high quality Flint Ridge flint - a favorite stone of Adena flint knappers. It is un usual to find in Ohio large Adenas made of Extraneous material. The Adena spear shown in Fig. 1 is an exception since it is made of Carter Cave flint. It is nearly 7 inches long and was found in 1948 on a sandbar in Turtle Creek, Warren County, Ohio. Now in the Collection of Walter Blum of Lebanon, Ohio, it is one of the finest Adenas in the state. The Carter Cave deposits of flint are in Carter County, Kentucky. The stone is a high quality material and varies from a cream-tan color to bright ma roon-orange - all variations and com binations of these colors mark this distinctive flint.
Fig. 1 (Converse) Adena spear made of Carter Cave flint. Shown in natural size, it is in the collection of Walter Blum, Lebanon, Ohio.
39 AN ADENA TUBULAR PIPE by Robert N. Converse 199 Converse Drive Plain City, Ohio
With only a few exceptions, pipes found in Adena contexts are the tubular varieties. They are most often made of sandstone, limestone or Ohio pipestone. Many tubular pipes from Adena sites in West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and as far away as the Delmarva area are made of high quality tan Ohio pipestone from the Feurt deposits in Scioto County, Ohio. Rarely were any of the pink or maroon shades of this stone used for tubular pipes but occasional examples are known. Adena tubular pipes range from simple cigar-shaped types to those with greatly exaggerated flared bits. Some are cylindrical tubes with a uni formly drilled cavity which extends al most to the blocked end. Here a small hole to draw smoke through was drilled into the tobacco cavity. Such a pipe is shown in the illustra tion. It is made of Ohio tan pipestone and, since it is broken, clearly shows the method of drilling. The pipe is in the collection of Al Wakefield of Youngstown, Ohio.
Fig. 1 (Converse) Two views of the inside and outside of a cylindrical Adena pipe. Striations of the drilling can be clearly seen. The pipe was probably broken by freezing and thawing which split it lengthwise.
40 ADENAS by Richard Ward 9030 Tawawa Maplewood Rd. Maplewood, Ohio
Shown are some colorful Adena points Upper Mercer flint from the Coshocton 1947), Washington Co. Noble Co., and from my collection. The adena people and Muskingum deposits. These points Muskingum Co. utilized some of the more exotic flint were found in Champaign Co., Allen Co., from Flint Ridge as well as high quality Hancock Co., Logan Co. (by my father in
41 AZIMUTHS TO THE OTHERWORLD: ASTRONOMICAL ALIGNMENTS OF HOPEWELL CHARNEL HOUSES by William F. Romain 4000 Westboork Drive, #502 Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 (216)661-1510
In earlier articles (Romain 1992a, discovery - and has pretty much contin at 39 degrees North latitude, a change of 1992b, 1991a), I suggested that certain ued without respite, for the past two hun one degree in horizon elevation will result Hopewell earthworks were intentionally dred years. in a change of about one degree in the aligned to significant celestial events. In In those few instances where charnel sun or moon's rising or setting position particular, it was suggested that at least house features have not been com on the horizon. Potential alignment errors 23 geometrically-shaped Hopewell earth pletely destroyed, only a very few have due to incorrect assumptions of horizon works incorporate alignments to either been adequately documented in terms elevation in this study therefore are prob solstice and/or lunar standstill events. of post mold patterns and orientation. ably no more than plus or minus one or In the present paper it is suggested What we are left with then, are the records two degrees assuming that no horizon el that various Hopewell charnel house of charnel house structures associated evations are in excess of three degrees. structures also incorporate astronomical with the Liberty, Mound City, Seip, and (My experience in surveying various sites alignments. Tremper earthworks. in southern Ohio is that most horizon ele Evidence is reviewed suggesting that vations average about one degree.) these charnel houses were used for the Analysis Finally, two additional matters related processing of dead human bodies and/or Published figures of the above noted to accuracy need to be noted. First, it is for the processing of material goods that charnel house structures were checked clear that the greatest potential for error were destined to accompany the de for selected astronomical alignments in this study lies not so much in the va ceased into the Otherworld. by reference to Aveni's (1972) tables. garies of astronomical-related assump It is proposed that the alignments of More specifically, the post mold pattern tions, but rather in the accuracy of the the above noted charnel houses were for each charnel house structure was site diagrams and true north as indicated designed to point in the direction that the checked for alignments to the cardinal on those diagrams. Quite simply, we deceased must travel to the Otherworld. directions, as well as the four solstice must assume that the maps made by In effect, the charnel house alignments and eight lunar standstill positions. No Greber, Brown, Mills, and Baby and were azimuths to the Otherworld. checks were made for stellar or plane Langlois are accurate. In this regard, in tary alignments. some instances, it was necessary to do Background As noted elsewhere (Romain 1992a, some follow-up work to find out if the For the purposes of this paper, a char 1992b, 1991a), Aveni's tables are entered north arrows provided on the site dia nel house can be defined as a house or by interpolated latitude, horizon eleva grams referred to true astronomical room in which dead bodies, and/or their tion, date, and celestial event. To enter north, grid north, or magnetic north. accompanying grave goods, are pre these tables, the latitude for each site Second, I am beginning to suspect pared for final disposition. I will return to was established to the nearest ten min that what was important to the Hopewell a discussion of this slightly expanded de utes of latitude by reference to USGS were symbolic alignments rather than finition of a charnel house in my discus topographic maps. Horizon elevations alignments intended for actual visual ob sion of the structures at Seip. For now, were all assumed to be one degree. The servations. I suspect this because there suffice it to say that charnel houses are date for all sites was presumed to be seems to be a pattern in the data sug characteristic of Ohio Hopewell. As noted A.D. 250. Rising and setting events were gesting that when the Hopewell laid out by Seeman: considered to occur at the instant of the an earthwork, they generally aligned the sun or moon's lower limb tangency with earthwork along predetermined, idealized celestial azimuths of where the sun or These structures are generally the horizon. moon should be - given about a one de identified by the presence of ovate As shown earlier (Romain 1991a: Tables gree horizon elevation. post mold patterns or burned ar 1 and 2), the rising and setting points for eas underlying burial mounds. the sun and moon change at relatively I mention this because if the symbolic They show considerable variation small increments in response to changes meaning of idealized alignments was in size, but most appear to have in latitude and date. A change in one full more important to the Hopewell than the been burned to the ground once degree of latitude for example, results in a absolute coincidence of a particular their usefulness had ended, and change of rising or setting azimuth of less sightline with an astronomical body - subsequently were covered with than one-half of one degree. (For compar then relatively small potential errors in the earthen mounds. Numerous exca ative purposes, consider that the north- orientation of the maps used herein may vations have demonstrated that south separation between Cincinnati and not necessarily nullify the hypothesis. these buildings served as centers Columbus, Ohio, is slightly less than one for the processing of the dead degree of latitude.) The Harness Mound (Seeman 1979:40). Similarly, over the course of one thou The first structure to be considered is sand years, the sun or moon's rising and the Harness Mound. Notably, the Harness Unfortunately, the statistical universe setting positions on the horizon change Mound was the largest of several mounds of Hopewell charnel house structures is by less than two tenths of one degree in found within the Liberty Earthwork. What not very large. By nature, such features azimuth as a function of time. remains of the Liberty Earthwork is lo occur within the perimeters of the well- Reference to the sun or moon's lower cated in Ross County, Ohio, at about 39° known Hopewell geometric enclosures. limb tangency with the horizon as the in 15' 30" North latitude and 82° 52' 45" However, most of these earthworks stant of rising or setting is simply a sub West longitude. have been destroyed by agricultural jective judgement. practices and urban expansion. Indeed By far, the greatest change in azimuth Although the Harness Mound had been the destruction of the Hopewell earth results from variations in horizon elevation. excavated on several occasions by ear works began at the same time as their As shown earlier (Romain 1991a: Table 3), lier archaeologists, it was N'omi Greber's
42 excavations in 1976 - 1977, that brought that mound. According to Brown (pers. given post holes, the south, east, and the outline of the underlying charnel house comm. 10-13-92) the north arrow on his most of the west walls and northwest cor structure to light. What Greber (1983,1979) map of Mound 10 (Brown 1979: Fig. 27.1) ner of the structure became quite evident. found was an extensive pattern of post indicates true north - corrected at the It simply remained to connect the known molds at the base of the mound sugges time of excavation and mapping for the walls and corners thus delineating the out tive of a large house structure. then current magnetic declination of the line of the structure. Given this outline, the Greber (1983:26) has likened this struc area. Given this information, the following following astronomical alignment seems ture to an Indian "Big House." However, astronomical alignment seems evident in evident in the design of the structure. given the substantial number of individu the design of the structure. As shown by Figure 3, on the date of als interred both in and around the struc As shown by Figure 2, on the date of the moon's minimum north standstill, ture, I have to conclude that at least one the moon's maximum south standstill, when viewed from Point A, the moon will of the functions of the structure was as a when viewed from Point A, tho moon will appear to rise in alignment with Point B. charnel house. Indeed, since its discov appear to rise over Point B. Notably, Notably, sightline A-B describes the diag ery, the remains of no less than 178 indi sightline A-B describes the diagonal of onal of this structure. viduals have been found within the this structure. That this structure was used as a char Harness Mound (Greber 1979: Table 6.3). That this structure was used as a char nel house is suggested by the finding of In any event, the first step in this analy nel house is suggested by the occurrence more than 19 cremations, several crema sis was to superimpose on Greber's of cremation remains found on the floor tion basins and platforms, and assorted (1983: Fig.2.6; 1979: Fig.6.3) maps an as of the structure, an empty cremation grave goods within the structure (Brown tronomically correct north-south line. This basin, one oval burial pit containing the 1979:214-215). was done by converting the magnetic cremated remains of a possible male north orientation represented on Greber's subadult individual cremated elsewhere, Seip Mound 1 maps to true north. According to USGS and one unburnt human phalange found The next sites to be considered are as topographic maps, the magnetic declina in a post pit of the east wall - which sociated with the Seip Earthwork, which is tion for this area in 1976, was approxi "strongly implies nearby processing of in- located in Ross County, Ohio. More specif mately 3 degrees west (extrapolated from the-flesh corpses, presumably in advance ically, the Seip Earthwork is located near Kingston Quadrangle data for 1975). of cremation" (Brown 1979:213). Bourneville, Ohio, at 39° 14' 15" North lati Given this data, a true north-south line tude and 83° 13'15" West longitude. was drawn using Greber's magnetic Mound City Mound 13 About 10 percent of the original area of north-south line as a reference. Based on During his 1963, work at Mound City, the site has been preserved as a State the resulting new north-south line, the fol Brown had the good fortune to also exca memorial. However, the rest of the site lowing astronomical alignments seem ev vate what remained of part of Mound 13 has been virtually destroyed by continu ident in the charnel house structure. also known as the Great Mica Grave. As ous cultivation. As shown by Figure 1, on the date of pointed out by Brown (1979:213), al The central Seip mound, also known as the moon's minimum south standstill, though the mound had been previously Mound 1, was excavated by Henry C. when viewed from Points A and B, the investigated by Shetrone and Mills (Mills Shetrone and Emerson F. Greenman of moon will appear to set in alignment with 1922:449), their work was not particularly the Ohio State Archaeological and Points G and E. Notably, sightlines A-G thorough. Among the features that Shet Historical Society, from 1925 - 1928. and B-E are in alignment with the post rone and Mills overlooked were the post Mound 1 occupies the center of the Seip holes that extend across the interior of hole patterns on the floor of the structure Earthwork and it is the largest mound in the structure. as revealed by Brown's subsequent work. the Paint Creek River Valley. Also evident in the charnel house struc Notably, Brown was also fully able to lo The floor plan of Mound 1 as revealed by ture is a second set of alignments. More cate the remnants and outline of the Shetrone and Greenman (1931) is pre specifically, on the date of the moon's Great Mica Grave, as well as cremations, sented in Figure 4. Of particular interest, minimum north standstill, when viewed grave goods, and other features not re however, is Shetrone and Greenman's from Points B and D, the moon will appear ported by Shetrone and Mills. (1931:354) statement that the "long axis (of to set over Points F and H. These sight- Anyway, as noted earlier in connection the mound) does not lie due east and west, lines, i.e., B-H and D-F describe the diag with Mound 10, the north arrow provided but in a position pointing six and one-half onals of each of the two square-shaped on Brown's map of Mound 13 is correctly degrees north of east." In other words, ac components of the structure. oriented to true north. Normally, this cording to Shetrone and Greenman, the would make the task of looking for astro longitudinal axis of Mound 1 extends along Mound City Mound 10 nomical alignments fairly easy. A problem an azimuth of 83.5 degrees. Aside from the Harness Mound, the in this case, however, was that the post Shetrone and Greenman do not explic only other charnel house structures that I hole pattern shown by Brown (1979: itly state whether they measured the lon know of, for which there is absolutely ac Fig.27.2) is incomplete. As mentioned gitudinal axis of the mound using true curate data in terms of true north are earlier, Brown did not excavate the entire north or magnetic north as their refer Mounds 10 and 13, which are found mound. As a result, post holes are not ence. However, in this case, even the within the enclosure at Mound City. shown for most of the north wall and part worst case scenario is not too devasting Mound City is located in Ross County, of the west wall. On the other hand, post to the analysis herein - since the mag Ohio, at about 39° 22' 35" North latitude holes are shown for the south and east netic declination for the area in 1925, was and 83° 00' 15" West longitude. walls, and much of the west wall, as well only about 1° 26' west (pers. comm. with Over the years, Mound City has been as the northwest corner of the structure. Minor Davis, National Geophysical Data extensively excavated and was partially Again, the location of the Great Mica Center, 10-20-92). In other words, in this destroyed by the construction of Camp Grave is precisely plotted by Brown. case we can assume that Shetrone and Sherman - a World War I training camp. In short, Brown's figure provides enough Greenman's north arrow, even if not cor Fortunately though, for some reason, post holes to allow what I think is a fairly rected to true north, is nevertheless accu Mound 10 was not excavated prior to accurate reconstruction of the structure's rate to within one and one-half degrees. 1963 - although one of Camp Sherman's overall configuration and orientation. This Given then, the above noted azimuth of roads did pass through part of the mound. reconstruction is shown in Figure 3. 83.5 degrees for the longitudinal axis of for In any event, in 1963, James A. Brown More specifically, Figure 3 was created the mound, true north, as well as astro of Northwestern University excavated by tracing on to a sheet of paper the post nomical east and west can be fairly accu Mound 10 and thereby revealed the char holes and north arrow shown by Brown rately plotted - as has been done for nel house structure located at the base of (1979:Fig. 27.2). Next, by connecting the Figure 4.
43 What becomes quite evident when embankment. Surprisingly, Baby and Tremper Mound looking at Figure 4, is that although the Langlois' (1979) excavations revealed The last charnel house structure to be longitudinal axis of the mound itself en- the post mold patterns of seven walled considered is found within the Tremper tends along an azimuth of 83.5 degrees, structures and the corner of an eighth. Mound. The Tremper Mound is located in the burial platforms within the mound Baby and Langlois (1979:Figs. 4.3 and Scioto County, Ohio, at about 39° 14' 15" conform to a tri-partite pattern of con 4.4) provided detailed diagrams for two North latitude and 83° 13' 15" West longi centric circles - which clearly extend of these structures. However, on their di tude. The site is situated about five miles along tho true east-west and north-south agrams for the two structures, it hap north of Portsmouth, Ohio. axes of the submound features. pens that their north arrows apparently The Tremper Mound was excavated in It is difficult to reconstruct with cer point to magnetic north - rather than 1915, by William C. Mills, of the Ohio tainty the design of the charnel house true north (pers. comm. with Suzanne M. Archaeological and Historical Society. structure that once existed within this Langlois 10-14-92 and Martha Potter What Mills found in the mound was per mound - simply because Shetrone and Otto 10-14-92). Before checking for as haps the largest number of Hopewell Greenman do not show enough post tronomical alignments therefore, it was cremations ever recorded. Mills (1916: molds to allow such a reconstruction. necessary to ascertain true north and 280) conservatively estimated the num However, I think that the circular and plot the resultant new, true north arrows ber of individuals represented in the cre east-west and north-south patterning of onto Baby and Langlois' maps. This was mated remains he found to number at the extant burial platforms is quite evi accomplished by determining the mag least 375 persons. dent. Again, these burial platforms extend netic declination for the area for 1971, Although Mills' (1916) report on the in a circular fashion around three central from the U.S. Gecological Survey, Global mound is of inestimable value, he unfor altars - and these three circular patterns Seismology and Geomagnetism Branch tunately failed to explicitly state or indi extend along an east-west and north- (pers. comm. with Norman Peddie 10- cate whether the north arrow provided on south orientation. Also to be noted is that 14-92) - and then making that correction his map of the site refers to true north, or many of the individual burial platforms (1° 50' west) to Baby and Langlois' north magnetic north. Because of the scale of themselves also extend north-south and arrows. Based on these new orientations his site diagrams, it is also impossible to east-west. Likewise, the four extended the following alignments seem evident in correlate Mills' site diagrams with any burials on the west side of the mound the Seip structures. identifiable topographic features shown clearly reveal an east-west orientation. With regard to Seip Site 3, as shown by on a USGS topographic map of the area In previous articles I have not devoted Figure 5, on the date of the sun's summer (West Portsmouth Quadrangle). In this much time to discussions concerning solstice, when viewed from Point A, the case analysis must rest on the assump the alignment of various earthworks, sun will set in alignment with Point B. tion that the north arrow provided by mounds, and other features to cardinal Notably, sightline A-B describes the diag Mills (1916: Fig.2) refers to true north. directions. However, it is clear that the onal of this structure. Fortunately though, it so happens in cardinal directions were recognized by With regard to Seip Site 4, as shown this case that the magnetic declination the Hopewell - and were astronomically by Figure 6, on the date of the sun's for the area in 1915, was only about one derived. For reasons to be discussed, it summer solstice, when viewed from degree west (pers. comm. with Minor makes sense that the Hopewell might ori Point A, the sun will set in alignment with Davis, National Geophysical Data Center, ent at least some of their burial mound Point B. Notably, sightline A-B describes 10-20-92). In other words, we can as features - such as appears to be the the diagonal of this structure. sume that Mills' north arrow, even if not case at Seip - along the cardinal direc In short, both of the Seip structures corrected to true north, is nevertheless tions of east-west. represented by Baby and Langlois reflect accurate to within one degree. A final point of interest is that lunar identical alignments to the summer sol It is also reassuring to note that Mills' alignments also seem apparent in the stice sunset. maps of the site were the result a survey layout of the burial platforms. In regard to how these structures where of the site made by Mr. George H. As shown by Figure 4, when viewed used, Baby and Langlois (1979: 18) argue Miehls. Mills (1916:226) notes that Mr. from Points A and B respectively, sight- that the structures were not charnel Miehls was the Ohio Archaeological and lines A-C and A-D, and B-E and B-F, re houses per se, but rather "specialized Historical Society's surveyor for their flect the moon's minimum north and min workshops" - used for the manufacture of field explorations. Certainly, the care imum south rising and setting positions. "ceremonial and ornamental objects." that Mr. Miehls employed in his survey Moreover, these alignments only become My opinion, is that even though no inter work is evidenced by the fact that he evident in connection with and indeed ments were found in these structures, the surveyed the site using contour intervals seem to define the size of the two large structures were nevertheless used for ac of only two feet. circular burial zones. As the reader will tivities associated with the burials found Given then the assumption that the recall, a similar situation, wherein the an within the central mound. Specifically, it Tremper Mound map shows true north, at gle between lunar azimuths describes the appears that the structures were manu least to within one degree, the following size of a circular earthwork, is found at facturing sites for grave goods that were alignment seems evident in the configu Frankfort (see Romain 1992a: 42). intended to accompany the deceased. I ration of the submound charnel house That the central Seip mound was used base this conclusion on the close physi post molds. as a charnel house is supported by the cal association of the structures to the As shown by Figure 7, the longitudinal finding within the mound of the remains central Seip mound which was found to axis of the Tremper charnel house struc of approximately 123 individuals, at least contain the remains of well over 100 indi ture appears to be aligned to the moon's five crematory basins, and of course, the viduals; as well as the finding within the minimum south rising position. Moreover, dozens of burial platforms as shown in structures of such artifacts as might be several important features within the Figure 4. expected of a manufacturing site - includ charnel house also appear to have been ing large numbers of bladelets, scrapers, aligned along this same lunar azimuth. Seip Sites 3 and 4 burins, and mica fragments. Given this In particular, as shown by Figure 7, fea From 1971 to 1978, limited excavations perspective, I think the Seip Sites 3 and tures 21, 22, 19, 17, 14, 11, 8, and 7, all were carried out at Seip by Raymond S. 4 can be considered to fall within the extend along the moon's minimum south Baby and Suzanne M. Langlois of the wider definition of a charnel house as rising azimuth. Ohio Historical Society. These excavations suggested at the beginning of this paper. Mills (1916) does not state what features were made in the areas roughly halfway 17 and 19 were. However, features 21 and between the central mound and the outer 22 were small depositories containing the
44 cremated remains of an undetermined positions - and whether or not they inten in alignment data, and congruence with number of individuals; features 11 and tionally aligned their structures to these what we know about Hopewell intellec 14 were crematories; feature 7 was a celestial events. tual achievements. large, circular-shaped fireplace; and fea I like to think that there are two basic More specifically, the Hopewell char ture 8 was a very large, clay-lined de ways to test for the significance of pro nel house alignments fit within an over pository containing ashes of the dead. posed archaeoastronomical alignments. all pattern of astronomical alignments Mills (1916:277) estimated that the In other words - two ways to ascertain if that are evident in the design of the ma ashes in this depository alone (feature 8) a proposed alignment is intentional. First, jor geometrically-shaped earthworks represented the remains of hundreds of there are various statistical tests. Second, (Romain 1992a, 1991a). This astronomi individuals. there are what I refer to as logic-congru- cal awareness also seems reflected Interestingly, if a parallel azimuth is ency tests. in the use of a lunar-based calendar drawn alongside of the one just noted, The use of statistical tests for signifi system that was probably shared by that azimuth will extend through features cance in archaeoastronomical studies the Adena and Hopewell (Romain 20, 18, 10, and 25. has been debated for years (cf. Hawkins 1992c, 1991b). And, the alignments ap Given the above, there is no doubt that 1965 and Atkinson 1966); and proposed pear consistent with the level of intel the Tremper Mound was a large charnel tests range from applications of Bemouli's lectual achievement apparently reached house. Law (Hawkins 1965) to very sophisticated by the Hopewell - as evidenced by their As an aside, it is also of interest to note tests that as a practical matter can only use of a standard unit of measure that if Mills' maps of Tremper are accu be run on limited sets of data (e.g., (Romain 1991c), and their understand rate, then yet another astronomical align Freeman and Elmore 1979). ing of simple concepts of plane geome ment can be seen in the configuration of Among the problems with significance try (Romain 1992d). the enclosure. More specifically, as tests in archaeoastronomical studies are The finding of the charnel house align shown by Figure 8, on the date of the questions of what tests are appropriate; ments is also consistent with what we winter solstice, when viewed from Point conceptual difficulties in handling the know about more contemporary Indian A, the sun will appear to set through the complex permutations that arise in in beliefs about the Otherworld. gateway at Point B. This sightline defines stances of multiple and/or dependent Seeman (1979:43), for example, points the diagonal of the Tremper enclosure. alignments; and lastly, interpretation of out that "charnel houses were widespread the results. throughout the Southeast during the his Discussion and Conclusions Most of these problems have yet to be toric period" - extending from the Atlantic In the preceding pages, seven sub satisfactorily resolved. And as a result, coast of Virginia, to Florida, around the mound charnel house structures were we seldom see archaeoastronomical Gulf, and to the lower Mississippi Valley. looked at for astronomical alignments. studies that successfully employ statisti Seeman (1979:43) also points out that These structures were located within the cal tests as part of their research design charnel houses were an important part of Liberty, Seip, Tremper, and Mound City (also see Thomas 1978). the late prehistoric Mississippian period - earthworks - and they essentially repre Regrettably, this situation also leaves extending north to the lower Ohio Valley sent the best-documented of the known most archaeoastronomical studies open and west as far as Oklahoma. Ohio Hopewell charnel houses. to the criticism that proposed alignments Given the above, it seems likely that All seven of these structures appear to may be random - or due to chance rather the phenomenon of charnel house inter have been aligned to significant celestial than intentional design. ment is yet another example of the conti events. One answer to such criticisms, how nuity of ritual and belief extending from Particularly significant about this find ever, is found in the second mentioned historic times back into Mississippian ing is that the astronomical analysis pre category of significance tests - i.e., logic- times, and in some instances, back even sented herein were made using what I congruency tests. earlier-into Middle Woodland, Ohio think are pretty accurate site diagrams. Within this category of tests are ques Hopewell times. As a result, I feel confident that the align tions such as: Are other alignments also These observations are important be ments I have suggested are real. In fact, evident within the site? Are similar align cause in the Southeast, there clearly was given the condition of the earthworks, it ments also evident at other sites of the an association between charnel house seems doubtful that the evidence for same culture? And, are the proposed rituals and lunar cycles. This association Hopewell alignments will ever be much alignments consistent with what is known is documented by references such as the better than this. about the culture's ideology? following which refer to food offerings Finally, whether using statistical tests, presented at the charnel houses of the The Question of Significance or logic congruency tests, two additional Natchez and Taensa: As with these and other Hopewell questions that might be profitably asked alignments, however, I think it is impor are: Does the hypothesis fit all of the At the last quarter of the moon tant to note that the central issue is not facts that are known to the investigator? all the cabins make an offering... whether the alignments exist. Really, the And, are previously unknown and unsus which is placed at the door of the question is whether or not the alignments pected data of various kinds falling into temple (Swanton 1911:260-261) are or were, intentional. place within the newly proposed hypoth (emphasis added). It is clear, for example, that within toler esis? (see Oliver 1991). Every new moon presents...are able limits, the longitudinal axis of the Through questions such as these, an made at the Temple (Swanton Tremper submound charnel house ex overall impression can be gained as to 1911:159) (emphasis added). tends along the same azimuth as the the likelihood that a particular sightline moon's minimum south rising position. was intentionally aligned to a particular They give the dishes to the The azimuthal data for both the charnel celestial event. In fact, affirmative an guardian who carries them to the house and the moon are quantifiable swers to the above questions may pro side of the basket in which are the matters of fact - and quite simply, there vide more meaningful insights than might bones of the dead; this ceremony is no question that the azimuths for the otherwise be gained from statistical lasts only one moon (Swanton charnel house and moon coincide. In this anaylses alone. 1911:269) (emphasis added). case, and in every other case involving proposed Hopewell alignments, the real Beliefs About the Otherworld The seeds are in like manner of question again, is whether or not the When the above questions are asked in fered before the temple with great builders of these structures recognized regard to the Hopewell charnel house ceremony, but the offerings which the sun's solstice and moon's standstill alignments, what we find is a consistency are made there of bread and flour
45 every new moon are for the use of house rituals. My thought is that these Hopewell Archaeology: The Chillicothe the keepers of the temple (Swanton fires and rituals were meant to release Conference, edited by David S. Brose 1911:166) (emphasis added). the spirit and soul in the form of billowing and N'omi Greber, pp.27-38. Kent State clouds of smoke, which would rise sky University Press, Kent. Again, the point here is that the South ward and eventually disappear into the Hawkins, Gerald S. eastern Indians clearly associated their Otherworld. Presumably, as these souls 1965 Stonehenge Decoded. Dell Publishing, charnel houses, which were used for the ascended skyward, the charnel house N.Y., N.Y. processing of the dead, with lunar cycles. alignments would have provided the de Hudson, Charles Likewise, the same association is being ceased with a sense of the direction they 1976 The Southeastern Indians. University of suggested herein for the Hopewell. needed to travel - in order to reach their Tennessee Press, Knoxville. As to why the moon would be associ final destination - in the Otherworld. Hultkrsntz, Ake (trans, by Monica Setterwall) ated with the dead either by the Indians 1979 The Religions of the American Indians. of the Southeast or the Hopewell, there Acknowledgements University of California Press, Berkeley. are a couple of observations that can For information that was kindly provided Mills, William C. be made. I would like to thank: Dr. James A. Brown, 1922 Exploration of the Mound City Group. First, there is the observation that the Northwestern University; Suzanne B. Ohio Archaeological and Historical moon is a phenomenon of the night. Langlois, former executive assistant to Quarterly 31:423-584. Likewise, death is also universally associ Raymond S. Baby; Martha Potter Otto, 1916 Exploration of the Tremper Mound. OA?/o ated with the night. It makes sense there Ohio Historical Society; Minor Davis, Archaeological and Historical Quarterly fore that there might be an association NOAA, National Geophysical Data Center; 25:262-398. between night = moon = death. Norman W. Peddie and Kathryn Sikes, Oliver, Jack E. As Hudson explained relevant to U.S. Geological Survey, Global Seis 1991 The Incomplete Guide to the Art of Cherokee cosmology: mology and Geomagnetism Branch. Discovery. Columbia University Press, Last but most importantly, I would like N.Y., N.Y. ...east was the direction of the to thank my mother - Frances Spania Romain, William F. Sun, the color red, sacred fire, blood, Rothenberg, and my wife, Evie, for their 1992a More Astronomical Alignments at and life and success; its opposite, continued support and encouragement Hopewell Sites in Ohio. Ohio the west, was associated with the throughout this continuing odyssey. Archaeologist 42(1 ):38-47. Moon, the souls of the dead, the 1992b Hopewell Inter-Site Relationships and color black, and death (Hudson References Astronomical Alignments. Ohio 1976:132) (emphasis added). Atkinson, R.J.C. Archaeologist 42(1):4-5. 1966 Moonshine on Stonehenge. Antiquity 1992c Further Evidence for a Calendar System Second, it may be that the Hopewell 40:212-216. Expressed in the Adena Tablets. Ohio associated the phases of the moon with Aveni, Anthony F. Archaeologist 42(3):31-36. the death and rebirth of the deceased in 1972 Astronomical Tables Intended for use in 1992d Hopewellian Concepts in Geometry. the Otherworld. More specifically, it may Astroarchaeological Studies. American Ohio Archaeologist 42(2):35-50. be that symbolically, the Hopewell asso Atiqulty 37(4):531-540. 1991a Possible Astronomical Alignments at ciated the waxing, full, waning, and new Baby, Raymond S., and Suzanne M. Langlois Hopewell Sites in Ohio. Ohio moon periods with man's own phases of 1979 Seip Mound State Memorial: Archaeologist 41 (3):4-16. birth, growth, old age, and death. Nonmortuary Aspects of Hopewell. In 1991b Calendric Information Evident in the Lastly, it is interesting to note that in Hopewell Archaeology: The Chillicothe Adena Tablets. Ohio Archaeologist many Native American Indian cultures, the Conference, edited by David S. Brose 41(4):41-48. Otherworld was thought of as a mirror-im and N'omi Greber, pp.16-18. Kent State 1991c Evidence for a Basic Hopewell Unit of age of this world. As Hultkrantz explains, University Press, Kent. Measure. Ohio Archaeologist 41 (4):28-37. Brown, James A. Seeman, Mark F. The peculiar character of the 1979 Charnel Houses and Mortuary Crypts: 1979 Feasting with the Dead: Ohio Hopewell other world is also expressed by Disposal of the Dead in the Middle Charnel House Ritual as a Context for describing everything there in re Woodland Period. In Hopewell Redistribution. In Hopewell Archaeology: verse...During the day the dead are Archaeology: The Chillicothe The Chillicothe Conference, edited by skeletons, but at night they look Conference, edited by David S. Brose David S. Brose and N'omi Greber, like humans, alive and energetic, and N'omi Greber, pp.211-219. Kent pp.39-46. Kent State University, Kent. they walk upside down, they do not State University Press. Shetrone, Henry C, and Emerson F. Greenman hear speech but listen to yawnings Freeman, P.R., and W. Elmore 1931 Exploration of the Seip Group of and so forth (Hultkrantz 1979:135). 1979 A Test for the Significance of Prehistoric Earthworks. Ohio Astronomical Alignments. Archaeological and Historical Quarterly If the sun therefore is the primary life-giv Archaeoastronomy 1 :S86-S96. 40:343-509. ing body in this world, then it perhaps (Supplement to the Journal for the Swanton, John R. follows that in the Otherworld, the moon History of Astronomy.) 1911 Indian Tribes of the Lower Mississippi would be the central celestial body. Greber, N'omi Valley and Adjacent Coast of the Gulf of Accordingly, it would be appropriate to 1983 Recent Excavations at the Edwin Mexico. Bureau of American Ethnology, orient the dead to the primary celestial Harness Mound, Liberty Works, Ross Bulletin 43. body of their new, Otherworld abode. County, Ohio. MCJA Special Paper No.5. Thomas, David Hurst Even though it is almost two thousand Kent State University Press, Kent. 1978 The Awful Truth About Statistics in years after the fact, it is nevertheless 1979 A Comparative Study of Site Morphology Archaeology. American Antiquity possible to imagine the great cremation and Burial Patterns at Edwin Harness 43(2):321-244. fires of the Hopewell and their charnel Mound and Seip Mounds 1 and 2. In
46 515
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MOUND CITY GROUP MOUND 13 MOUND CITY GROUP MOON MAX MOUND 10 10 FEET SOUTH RISE 130°.5 Fig. 3 (Romain) Mound City Mound 13 post hole pattern and Fig. 2 (Romain) Mound City Mound 10 post hole proposed astronomical alignment. Estimated configuration of pattern and proposed astronomical alignment. north and west walls is indicated by the dashed line. Drawing by Drawing by the author, modified after Brown 1979: the author, modified after Brown 1979: Fig. 27. 2. Fig. 27.1.
Fig. 4 (Romain) Seip Mound 1 burial platforms, other features, and proposed astronomical alignments. Note how the square or rectangular burial platforms extend in a pattern of concentric circles around three central altars. Further, the centers of the circles extend along east- west and north-south axes. Also, the size of the circular burial zones seem defined by the lunar azimuths as indicated. Modified after Shetrone and Greenman 1931: fold-out map.
inulP Lai forms :t;miitorij Basins
I ' • Floor Pun,l1oin 47 HoitXT y*-""** _ • • • • »^« - J>iSTun.ftAi«t£_^ . •• ...-* ••••**_—_^^ " * • • • • • •• • • • •• • • • • • • <© •/• • °«xcv • •• •*Ny • • • • * • *»V/1 \ • • • \. * * • / X # • / / Tk • • \ : • / I ^k • SEIP SITE 4 // X * 5 FEET • // / \» • Fig 6 (Romain) Seip Site 4 post hole pattern and proposed astronomical •"., • •• »#••#•••••«••••• ••»•..«*• A\ o ••••• •«••••••• alignment. Drawing by the author, modified after Baby and Langlois 1979: Fig. 4. 4. 5 FEET F/0. 5 (Romain) Seip Site 3 post hole pattern and proposed astronomical alignment. Drawing by the author, modified after Baby and Langlois 1979: Fig. 4.3. t Q> • *. .MOON MIN «.*"->•• "..••• SOUTH RISE •' ••... t .. 67°.3 TorocnAnvc MAT TREMPER MOUND PLAN OT FLOOR Or TREMPER MOUND. Fig. 7 (Romain) Tremper post hole pattern and proposed astronomical Fig. 8 (Romain) Plan of the Tremper Earthwork showing possible solar alignment. Note how this alignment (line A-B) also extends through numerous alignment. Modified after Mills 1916: Fig. 2. features including the large depository that held the cremated remains of hundreds of individuals. Modified after Mills 1916: Fig. 3 48 A FLINT RIDGE DOVETAIL by Bill Likens Plain City, Ohio This 3 inch dovetail was found July 2, 1992, along Big Darby Creek south of Plain City. The site has produced a num ber of flint points in the past few years. The dovetail is made of white Flint Ridge chalcedony with a translucent tip. Fig. 1 (Likens) Three inch Flint Ridge dovetail. PERSONAL FIELD FINDS OF 1992 by Jennifer A. Saksa 5122 State Route 5 Newton Falls, OH 44444 While some people may say that the grey and green celt which is mostly rough in a cornfield in Licking County, Ohio. rain ruined their summer this year, I found and unpolished except for the tip which Figure 3 contains a polished stone bead the wet weather to be extremely helpful is very sharply honed and polished. It also found in Licking County, Ohio. It is in locating Indian relics. Pictured are just was found in Portage County, Ohio and %" in diameter and the hole is V" at its some of the items I have found thus far measures AW in length. Figure 2 shows widest part. this year. Figure 1 contains a banded various colorful Flint Ridge artifacts found Fig. 3 (Saksa) Polished stone bead found in Licking County, Ohio. Fig 2 (Saksa) Arrowheads, knives, scrapers, and bladelets Fig. 1 (Saksa) Celt found in Portage County, found in Licking County, Ohio. Ohio. 49 LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO REGARDING RECENT INDIAN PROTESTS July 20 1992 port to represent Ohioans of Indian an In view of the importance to the State Mr. August Pust cestry and other Ohio taxpayers A review of Ohio and its residents of our rich ar Advisor to the Governor of the credentials of the author of these chaeological heritage, it seems ridiculous on Multicultural Affairs letters will reveal that he was not born in that a handful of individuals, many of 77 South High St. Ohio and is a relative newcomer to the whom are not even Ohio residents, can 30th Floor state. He not only doesn't represent a come to our state and attempt to dictate Columbus, Ohio 43266-0601 large segment of Ohio's population but control over our sites and monuments. doesn't even reflect the views of a major Such actions by people who are primarily publicity seeking activists, only serve to Dear Sir: ity of the small number of Ohioans with Indian ancestry. trivialize the importance and valuable legacy of Ohio's past. My name is Robert N. Converse. My Ohio has one of the richest prehistoric family came to the Darby Plains area Indian heritages in North America. In ad Archaeology is a legitimate, re near Plain City in 1801 and our family has dition to Ohio's important part in prehis spectable and necessary science. Not lived here for seven generations. I am tory from the time of the last glaciers, it is only should the state fund it as it has in past President, Vice-President and Direc also the area where the first North the past, but it should encourage and tor of the Archaeological Society of Ohio, American moundbuilders cultures arose. promote it for the betterment of the state the largest state archaeological associa Ohio is unique in that it contains all of the and its residents. tion in the United States. For the past spectacular Hopewell earthworks. Nearly I can assure you that any attempt to twenty five years I have been Editor of everything we know about the prehistory pass laws restricting archaeological work the Ohio Archaeologist, a quarterly publi of the eastern United States can be re or the establishment of boards or com cation of our Society. I have written five lated to archaeological investigations missions to regulate it, will be vigorously books on Ohio's Indian artifacts and pre done in Ohio. Each year thousands of opposed by every one of the 3,000 mem historic cultures and thus have more than visitors from all over the world come to bers of the Archaeological Society of passing interest in Ohio's prehistory. I be Ohio to visit museums, earthworks, Ohio. lieve I represent the views of nearly all mounds and prehistoric sites. The our 3,000 members. amount of money spent by these visitors Respectfully, I am writing to express my concern re is considerable and probably runs into Robert N. Converse garding a letter sent to your office from the millions of dollars. Without archaeol Editor the American Indian Center and a letter ogy, none of this interest in Ohio would The Ohio Archaeologist sent to Brad Lepper at the Newark have been generated. Earthworks Museum. These letters pur- such a small fraction of a minority group 29Sept1992 names, just like the rest of us. Super stitious assertions have been presented (political correctness aside) can lay claim to a majority of moral high ground. If The Hon. George V. Voinovich as a monolithic all-encompassing set of people believe these cult-like religious ar Governor of the State of Ohio values for all Indians, which is not true. guments, then Ohio's state properties State House Some Indians in fact are pleased and and private ownership of legally-acquired Columbus, OH 43215 proud to take part in prehistoric site exca vations so that they can learn more about artifacts are both jeopardized. Dear Governor Voinovich, how the people once lived who may (or In short, I feel that state monies that may not) have been their ancestors. have supported OHS over the years have This letter is in regard to the efforts of The demonstrations that I have seen been well-spent. Out-of-state people certain Indian activists who claim to here in Ohio, in New York and in Ken have told me many times that of all the speak for the Native American commu tucky were interesting. Most seem to be Midwestern states they most admire the nity in finding fault with recent scientific directed by individuals without regular dedication and accomplishments of the Society here in Ohio. This is a good work done by the Ohio Historical Society. jobs who take themselves very seriously record. I fully support what OHS has I am a full-time writer in the area of and love publicity and know how to get it done and is doing and I hope they do prehistoric North American artifacts; I from the media. One of the favorite things these people more of it. Our prehistoric past is vast have a large library (which I use) and I and complicated and needs much addi subscribe to numerous periodicals in the say is, "If you want to know about the past, don't dig. Just ask us". I have in tional study. It is also a wonderful her field. As to the claim that site excavation itage for all Ohioans. desecrates Native American religious be deed asked some questions and re liefs, this is a view held only by some. ceived a mixture of myth, garbled gener Actually, Indians are Catholic, Protestant, alities and wishful thinking. The real Cordially, agnostic, atheistic and lots of other mystery here isn't religious. It is how Lar Hothem 50 "PARTICIPATE IN ARCHAEOLOGY" BROCHURE AVAILABLE FREE PUBLIC CAN LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Director of the National Park Service, Archeology that Secretary Lujan an agency organization whose goal is to James Ridenour, today announced the nounced in 1991." improve public awareness of Federal availability of a new brochure, "Participate The brochure provides an overview of archeology. The agencies contributing to in Archaeology." The new brochure aims the available opportunities for learning the production of this brochure are the to provide the public with better access to about archeology - videos, journals, and Department of Defense, the Bureau of archeological information, while support books that offer detailed information Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Man ing Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan's about archeological topics and issues. agement, the U.S. Forest Service, and heritage education goal. The brochure also presents opportuni the Federal Highway Administration. "Archeological sites can be damaged ties to become involved in archeological Copies of "Participate in Archeology" by careless treatment. This brochure will fieldwork. are available free by writing: Publications help people learn the hazards of casual The Archeological Assistance Division Specialists, Archeological Assistance destruction," Ridenour said. "Improving of the National Park Service produced the Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box public education and awareness of arche brochure in cooperation with the Public 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127. ology in the National Strategy for Federal Awareness Working Group, an inter PM ;IETT[ THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR PRESERVATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS P.O. Box 1171 Whittier, CA 90609-1171 NOVEMBER 1992 The Hate-Archaeology Virus Spreads to Ohio "Mr. Brad Lepper related to a tribe in Mexico are devoted to stopping American Ohio Historical Society excavations of a Hopewell site. He was aided by Art Tequaesche, "a Licking County resident of the Pueblo tribe." To Whom it May Concern: The original press coverage in the Advocate (Newark, Ohio, Please be advised that under no circumstances does the Ohio Thursday July 9, 1992} was as provincial, naive, and sappy as the Center for Native American Affairs condone, authorize, or press usually is when sacred religion confronts evil scientists. On approve of any dig, excavation, survey or any type of scientific the other hand, editorials and letters to the editor pointed out investigation of any burial, ceremonial, past living, or trash sites the ridiculous aspects of this situation, including criticism of or mounds whether they be Native American or any other ethnic Sanchez for continuing to Insist that the mound under group of peoples. Most certainly we do not approve of the investigation contained burials, in spite of no evidence of such scientific or any other type of investigation or excavation of The and the fact that the mound is an eardiwork, not a burial Circle Mounds or any other mounds, burials or sites that may be mound. DeeAnne Wymer, the supervisor of the archaeological of Native American ancestry. team of Btoomsburg University students, is quoted in the press: "I didn't expect the degree of ugliness and lying and deceit." John Sanche2 One letter to the editor published in the Advocate by Laura President, the Ohio Center Mathews of Heath says: for Native American Affairs "Plains Indian teepees are about as much at home on the July 8,1992" Mounds as igloos. Delaware and Shawnee did not use teepees for (Emphasis in original) their shelters. (Nor did they recline in lawn chairs as did the modern-day protesters.) Before we close our minds to the search The letter carries the anti-intellectual, anti-archaeology for knowledge screaming 'don't', 'stop', 'ancient spirits will be viewpoint to the ultimate extreme in objecting to any offended', we should examine what is actually known about the archaeology whatever, of any time period or any ethnic group. people who erected the mounds. Thanks to these brave, young We are expected to close down all the historical and colonial scientists, we may learn much about the vanished peoples who archaeology of our own culture, as well as abandoning prehistoric called Licking County home thousands of years before us." archaeology, in order not to offend Indian repugnance against Another letter from John Winsch, M.D., says: studies of ancient history. Fortunately, this view is not universal "Let's not allow their [archaeological] investigations to be even among Indians or politicians. hampered by a bunch of anti-scientific malcontents who don't seem to understand that truth is always to be preferred to John Sanchez is described in newspaper articles as a ignorance." "full-blooded Yaqui and a Native American Activist." He led a demonstration against the archaeology project, at which he and other political activists were allowed to interrupt the dig and perform a "pipe ceremony." It is regrettable that these "Indians" vr&& -i- BACK COVER A personal find of Ray McCarty of Union County, Ohio, this axe is made of gray diorite with brown and white quartz inclusions. Even though many tools were often made of drab material, this example proves that occasionally the maker had an eye for esthetics as well. 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.