Ohio prehistoric sites



Evidence of humans in Ohio goes back as far as 13,000 BC, with the first inhabitants after the last ice age most likely being Paleo-Indians who seemed to have disappeared after the Younger Days impact event. Later they were replaced by Archaic people who are referred to as Native Americans. The Archaic period is divided into Early, Middle and Late Archaic periods, it is thought of as (possibly) the second period of human occupation that took place 8,000 BC to 1,000 BC. The Woodlands Period went from about 1,000 BC to 700 AD and included the Adena and Hopewell peoples who are sometimes referred to as the Mound Builders. Other cultures extended the Mound Builders period to about 1300 AD.

For reference:
 * Stonehenge about 3,100 BC.
 * Teotihuacan construction dates back to about 200 BC to 100 AD.
 * Chichen Itza about 600–1,000 AD.

Locations
The list below is far from a complete list of prehistoric sites in Ohio. Finding a clovis point in a farm field from a Paleo-Indian roaming your land 11,000-15,000 may be more memorable than visiting any of the historical sites. Ohio is literally littered with early human artifacts. There are many private and public displays throughout the State of “field finds”, which are far from uncommon even today.
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These sacred sites have endured much over time and have diminished more since white settlers showed up in the Ohio Valley than any other time in history. One of the biggest enemies of these sites has been the invention of the cast-steel plow. Property owners have ignored the importance of the remnants of early man and have plowed over burial sites, mounds and artifacts without concern. The most common way of discovering artifacts today, is during the plowing of fields (field finds). This lack of care or respect for these monuments reflects badly on current inhabitants.

Exhibits
There are excellent exhibits throughout the State. This is a short list.
 * Ohio Historical Center, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, +1 614 297-2300
 * Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.
 * Flint Ridge State Memorial 3 miles south of Cynthia, near (south/east) Newark off of SR 668.
 * Lowe-Volk Park, 38 acre Nature Park, located on SR 598, 4 miles north of newer SR 30. Annual Arrow Head Day brings out some of the best of the areas private collections.

Associations and societies


There are also numerous local chapters of both of the organizations listed above.

Related

 * Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois - Site of one of the largest native cities north of Mexico.
 * Moundsville, West Virginia - Contains a large mound built by the Adena culture.
 * Ohio State Parks - Many mounds are within state park boundaries.