Hopewell Excavation Near Chillicothe Seeks Evidence of a 'Woodhenge'

Image Courtesy of the National Park Service/ T. Engberg.

June 23, 2014.

Mary Beth Lane, of The Columbus Dispatch, has written an exciting article about the recent discovery of a possible woodhenge, "a circular enclosure of wooden posts" often to record astronomical events, at the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park near Chillicothe.

"More testing and analysis remain to be done before they can be certain. But the archaeologists believe that the stains of darker soil they are discovering in intervals several feet beneath a field are evidence of wood — long since rotted into the earth — that once made up the circular enclosure."

-Mary Beth Lane, The Columbus Dispatch.

To read the full article, click here.

For more information about 

The Hopewell Culture and UNESCO World Heritage, 

Visit:

• The Ancient Ohio Trail
• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
• Ohio History Connection

• Our Frequently Asked Questions
• National Park Service World Heritage Page
• Ohio History Connection World Heritage Site Nomination Page
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Nomination Page
• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks; World Heritage List Opportunity

Poverty Point Now an UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point

June 22, 2014.

"Poverty Point now joins Cahokia Mounds, Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon as the only ancient North American Indian sites to have received this ultimate level of international recognition.

The inscription of Poverty Points will mean an increased international appreciation of the remarkable achievements of North American Indian cultures."

-Brad Lepper, Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog.

Poverty Point is "located in the Lower Mississippi Valley on a slightly elevated and narrow landform. The complex comprises five mounds, six concentric semi-elliptical ridges separated by shallow depressions and a central plaza. It was created and used for residential and ceremonial purposes by a society of hunter fisher-gatherers between 3,700 and 3,100 B.C. Research has not clarified yet whether the complex had a steady residential function or was a campground occupied temporarily during ceremonies of trading fairs. It is a remarkable achievement in earthen construction in North America that was not surpassed for at least 2,000 years."

-UNESCO World Heritage.

For more information, visit:

• Poverty Point, Louisiana Tourism
• Poverty Point- A Terminal Archaic Culture of the Lower Mississippi Valley
• Poverty Point World Heritage Initiative
• Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Nomination
• Poverty Point World Heritage Justification

• UNESCO World Heritage
• National Park Service World Heritage Page
• New World Heritage Inscribed Properties (2014)
• Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog, June 22, 2014.

We have a former post about Poverty Point, 

which can be found here: 

Archaeologist Discovers New Mound at Poverty Point.

May, 30, 2014

Newark Earthworks Center July 2014 Events

2014 Flyer and Registration Form PDF Above.

July 7 - 11: Ancient Ohio Day Camp

Ancient Survival

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 27.

Ages: 5-8.

Cost: $100.

9 AM - Noon.

Learn about ancient American Indians in Ohio while spending time at two world renowned archaeological sites: the Newark Earthworks and  Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve. Build a shelter using natural materials, learn how to walk silently through the forest, and learn how to blend in with the environment. Step back in time with us and get ready to get muddy, play, and connect with nature.

Camps are held at the Great Circle Earthworks on Monday and Flint Ridge State Memorial Park in Licking County Tuesday through Friday.

Note: Campers should pack a snack each day.

For more information, contact Camp Director Mary Gordon:

gordon.589@osu.edu

740-504-0609.

July 14 - 18: Ancient Ohio Day Camp

Ancient Survival

Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 3.

Ages: 9-14.

Cost: $165

9 AM - 3 PM.

Learn ancient skills needed for survival at two archaeological sites, the Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve. We will make fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together, build a shelter to keep ourselves warn using only natural materials, walk silently through the forest, cover ourselves in mud to blend in with our surroundings, and learn the ancient art of flint knapping. Expect to form a deep connection with nature and the group as we learn about the American Indians who were here 2,000 years ago!

Camps are held at the Great Circle Earthworks on Monday and Flint Ridge State Memorial Park in Licking County Tuesday through Friday.

Note: Campers should pack a snack and lunch each day.

For more information, contact Camp Director Mary Gordon:

gordon.589@osu.edu

740-504-0609.

July 21 - 25: Ancient Ohio Day Camp

Ancient Art

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 11.

Ages: 9-14.

Cost: $165

9 AM - 3 PM.

Connect to nature and American Indian art! We will work clay to shape a traditional pot, form a basket using natural materials, sew a nature bag, and more; all while learning about American Indians who were here 2,000 years ago.

Camps are held at the Great Circle Earthworks on Monday-Tuesday and Flint Ridge State Memorial Park in Licking County Wednesday through Friday.

Note: Campers should pack a snack and lunch each day.

For more information, contact Camp Director Mary Gordon:

gordon.589@osu.edu

740-504-0609.

Camp Scholarships are available! Please contact Mary Gordon for more information.

Tours of the Great Circle Earthworks and Flint Ridge.

The Newark Earthworks Center employs four trained tour guides (two certified teachers & two Native Americans) who give tours for K-12 classes & other groups.
Admission is $5 per person except for teachers & aids.
Approximately 2, 500 school children participate each year.

For more information visit our Ancient Ohio Experience page or email us.

 Call 740-345-8224 to schedule a tour.

Archaeology- Ancient Cultures Affected by Climate Change, Too

June 15, 2014.

Brad Lepper, in The Columbus Dispatch, has written an informative article about the affects of climate on archaeological findings and cultural choices.

"Abrams and his team say that farming began in southern Ohio partly as a result of this climate change. A drier climate reduced the availability of nuts, and people adapted by shifting their attention to a variety of seed-bearing plants, such as sunflower and goosefoot."

-Brad Lepper, The Columbus Dispatch.

To read the full article, click here.

Dr. Lepper has also written an additional post about Archaeology and Climate Change 

on the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog;  

the full post can be found here.

A Co-Created Museum/Archaeology Brochure

June 2, 2014.

Robert Connolly, of the Archaeology, Museums, & Outreach Blog, has written an interesting post about his graduate student Allison Hennie's recent creation of a "co-created museum/archaeology brochure" for sites along the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and Natchez, Mississippi. 

The brochure PDF can be found in his post as well.

"Because the prehistoric earthwork complexes are located in different states that do not coordinate their marketing efforts, there is no single brochure or rack card that list these venues for visitors.  Allison’s brochure resolves that problem."

-Robert Connolly, Archaeology, Museums, & Outreach Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

One State Many Nations

"While each Nation (Tribe) is unique, they all share the common characteristics of language, environment, housing, food, transportation, clothing, games, music, and  dance. One State - Many Nations includes five videos" and was produced through cooperation between the Western Reserve Public Media and PBS.

This resource is intended for Grades 4 through 6 and complies with a variety of content standards.

Introduction and Resources

• Overview of Common Characteristics
• Timeline
• Environment
• Housing
• Food
• Tools
• Transportation
• Clothing
• Hair and Body Decorations
• Games
• Music and Dance
• Storytelling
• Cultural Compression
• Video Synopses
• Prehistoric Ohioans
• Historic Native Americans
• Native American Spiritual Life
• The Removal
• Native Americans Today
• Ohio's Native People in the 1600-1700's
• White Settlement Patterns in the Ohio River Valley During the 18th Century
• Glyphs

Nations

• Shawnee
• Miami
• Ottawa
• Wyandotte
• Mingo
• Delaware

Famous Chiefs

• Black Hoof
• Blue Jacket
• Captain Pipe
• Cornstalk
• Killbuck
• Little Turtle
• Logan
• Pontiac
• The Prophet
• Tarhe
• Tecumseh
• White Eyes

Lesson Plans

• Prehistoric Indians
• Historic Native Americans
• Native American Spiritual Life
• The Removal
• Native Americans Today

Herron's Whisper

• a collection of activities, crafts, games, and quizzes for additional learning.
• Native American Ways
• Crafts, Games, and Activities
• Recipes
• The Teacher's Native American Stereotype Quiz
• Rena Dennison's Biography

Watch Online

• Prehistoric Ohioans
• Historic Native Americans
• Native American Spiritual Life
• The Removal
• Native Americans Today
• Video Segments
• Dance
• Artifacts 

For more information, visit One State Many Nations Hotlist 

of additional online resources, here.

Chester Nez, last of the original Navajo code talkers of World War II, Dies

Navajo code talkers attend the 2011 City Military Appreciation Day
event to honor veterans and current service members
 in New York's Bryant Park on November 11, 2011.
Image Courtesy of Simon Russell/Getty Images
and CNN.com.

June 4, 2014.

Anne Claire Stapleton and Chelsea J. Carter ,of CNN, an informative article about Chester Nez who was the last surving member of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII.

"Nez was the last remaining of the original 29 Navajos recruited by the Marine Corps to develop the legendary code that was used for vital communications during battle."

-Anne Claire Stapleton and Chelsea J. Carter , CNN.

To read the full article, click here.

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII.

 by Chester Nez and Judith Schiess Avila. Berkley Trade, August 2012.

For more information  about Navajo Code Talkers 

of World War II, Visit:

• Navajo Code Talkers, Sharing the Story of the Soldiers that Ended the War.
• Native Words, Native Warriors, National Museum of the American Indian.
• Navajo Code Talkers and the Unbreakable Code, Central Intelligence Agency.
• Navajo Code Talkers: World War II Fact Sheet, Naval History & Heritage Command.

The Artist Leadership Program Class of 2014 Shares the Experience

May 29, 2014.

Keevin Lewis (Navajo), a coordinator of the Artist Leadership Program at the National Museum of the American Indian has written an interesting post in conjunction with Holly Nordlum (Inupiaq), Gerald Cournoyer (Oglala Lakota), and Nathalie Picard (Huron-Wendat) about their experiences working with the National Museum of the American Indian in its Artist Leadership Program.

"I came to the National Museum of American Indian to gather information about Iroquoian music, musical instruments, and traditional longhouse songs to share with my community and teach the teens and young adults in Wendake. I was amazed that there was an enormous amount of cultural material in the collections of the Smithsonian from my tribe, too! What a gold mine of objects, images, and knowledge from my culture! It is very touching to see up close so many objects in the Smithsonian collections. This research experience doesn't compare to looking at pictures in publications or seeing objects on exhibit. "

-Nathalie Picard (Huron-Wendat).

To read the full post, click here.

Artist Leadership Program

"enables indigenous artists to research, document, and network in Washington, D.C., then return home empowered with new artistic insights, skills, and techniques to share with their communities and the general public the value of Native knowledge through art. The program aims to rebuild cultural self-confidence, challenge personal boundaries, and foster cultural continuity while reflecting artistic diversity.

The program’s primary objectives are for individual indigenous artists to focus on artistic processes while researching the vast collections of the Smithsonian Institution (SI); meet and consult with staff at SI and other arts organizations; participate in a public art panel discussion, speaking as voices of authority on their art; and break down stereotypes about indigenous art.

The program’s secondary objectives include to mentor young artists in collaboration with elders; convene local artists for networking and to share ideas and resources; affirm that indigenous arts hold value and knowledge; and through indigenous arts, offer communities a means for healing and new ways to exchange cultural information."

For more information,

 visit the National Museum of the American Indian's

 Artist Leadership Program page, here.

For additional history of the program, visit the

Native Artists in the Americas, National Museum of the American Indian Native Arts Program: The First Ten Years Brochure PDF,  here.

A Likely Source for the Design of the Newark Decalogue Stone

Figure from Layard's 1853 book
Discoveries among the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon.
Image Courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog.

May 30, 2014.

Brad Lepper, of the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog, has written an informative post about a likely inspiration for the design of the Newark Decalogue Stone, one of "a series of archaeological forgeries created during the mid-to-late 19th century".

"we had not been able to find where the forgers had gotten the idea for the unique shape of the Decalogue Stone. After years of fruitless searching, I chanced upon Martin Carver’s book Sutton Hoo: burial ground of kings? where I came across the following passage:"

-Brad Lepper, Ohio History Connection Archaeology Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

Fort Jefferson, 1791-1796

Image of Fort Jefferson was redrawn by Elizabeth Menke from the original in the McHenry Papers, at Indiana Historical Society. Published by courtesy of the Society, in Fort Jefferson, by Frazer Ells Wilson, 1950 copyright.  An image of the original drawing appears in The Mapping of Ohio, by Thomas H. Smith, page 87.  OHC also has a copy of the image in SC 283. Digital Image Courtesy of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

May 13, 2014.

John Haas, of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written an interesting guest post about the historical context of Fort Jefferson, 1791-1796 in conjunction of the rediscovery of the documentation related to the archaeological recovery of Fort Jefferson in 1930.

"This post is about Fort Jefferson and not a description or reassessment of the battle known as “St. Clair’s Defeat” but suffice it to say it is known as the single greatest defeat suffered by a United States military force and conversely one of the most one sided victories of a American Indian confederacy over said United States Army. "

-John Haas, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To read the full text, click here.

Indian Claims Commission Decisions

Oklahoma State University, following their terms and conditions of use, has digitized all 

of the Indian Claims Commission Decisions from 1948 through 1978. 

The collection is organized in volumes, 1-43, with each decision marked with 

the docket number and the plaintiff tribe and accessible through the page number to the right. 

The Indian Claims Commission was established in August of 1946 to "hear and determine [land] claims against the United States on behalf of any tribe, band, or other identifiable group of American Indians residing in the United States and filed within 5 years of the passage of the establishing act and was abolished by September 1978"

 -The National Archives.

To view the Indian Claims Commission Decisions, click here.

Index

• Subject Index
• Creation, Jurisdiction, Responsibilities of the Indian Claims Commission
• Federal Trust Obligations, Trade and Intercourse Act
• Title, Aboriginal Title, Recognized Title, Land Grants, Survey Errors
• Hunting, Fishing, Mineral, Timber and Water Rights
• Treaties and Agreements Between the United States and Indians
• Land Valuation
• Offsets and Credits, Interest, Apportionment of Award
• Table of Docket Numbers
• includes the plaintiff tribe's name
• Tribal Index
• includes the plaintiff tribe's name and their dockets', volume, page, document title, and dates

National NAGPRA, has a digitized map of the Indian Land Claims Judicially Established in 1978 based on the Indian Claims Commission's decisions which can be found here. 

Our previous post on the map can be found 

on February 17, 2014 or here.

Dayton Daily News Editor Visits Ohio's Hopewell Earthworks

Siep Mound.
Image Courtesy of Connie Post of the Dayton Daily News.

May 25, 2014.

Connie Post,an editor for the Dayton Daily News, recently visited some of the principle earthworks sites throughout Ohio, including the Hopewell Culture Ceremonial Earthworks, and created a video and photo stream of her experiences. The photo stream can be viewed here.

Video is courtesy of the Dayton Daily News.
To learn more about the Hopewell Culture Ceremonial Earthworks or UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage, visit:

• Our Frequently Asked Questions Tab
• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Page
• The National Park Service's World Heritage Page
• UNESCO World Heritage Page

A Journey to the Northwest Frontier in 1783: The Journal of George McCully

April 29, 2014.

Julie Miller wrote a guest post for the Library of Congress Blog on the journal of George McCully from 1783 recording his trip from Pittsburgh to Detroit as a companion to Ephraim Douglass who was to inform 'the Indians of the Northwest frontier that a treaty ending the war [the Revolution] was about to be signed and that America would have sovereignty'.

"McCully’s vivid descriptions make up for the journal’s shortcomings. Despite his sometimes iffy spelling and punctuation, he brings the landscape of the Pennsylvania and Ohio wilderness and its people to life. "

-Julie Miller, Library of Congress Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

To learn more about the Library of Congress' collection the American Revolution and Its Era: 

Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750-1789 

visit their webpage, here.

Archaeology in Action Program

ARCHAEOLOGY IN ACTION

June 16- July 11, 2014.

Monday-Friday.

8.30 AM- 4 PM; rain or shine.

In the summer of 2014, the Department of Archaeology will resume test excavations at the Burrell Orchard site, a prehistoric Native American settlement located on the Black River in Sheffield Village, Ohio in Lorain County. The program is designed for Museum members [Cleveland Museum of Natural History] who want to participate in an actual archaeological dig and learn the basic techniques

 of excavation and data recording.

The 2014 excavations will more completely document the Late Archaic house structure and test for additional activity areas at this rare and unique site with instructors Dr. Brian G. Redmond, Curator and John Otis Hower Chair of Archaeology, and Brian Scanlan, Supervisor of Archaeology Field Programs.

For more information about the site, visit the 2008 Archaeological Research Report, here.

Minimum age 17. 

Limit 10 per week. 

Cleveland Museum of Natural History membership is required. 

No experience is necessary.

Application Deadline: June 9, 2014.

$200 per week.

Participants may enroll in one to four week-long sessions. 

Download the application, here.

For more information, contact Dr. Brian Redmond 

at 216-231-4600, ext. 3301 or email aia@cmnh.org .

Ceremonial 'Axis' Road Discovered in Heart of Ancient City of Cahokia

A map of Cahokia made in 2011 using Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR,
revealing traces of a causeway leading north from the midpoint of Rattlesnake Mound.
LiDAR imaging courtesy of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey and Western Digs.

May 19, 2014.

Blake de Pastino, of Western Digs, has written an exciting article about a recent confirmation of the presence of a ceremonial road in the center of Cahokia, an ancient city in Illinois which was inhabited from AD 700-1400.

"While the existence of such a road had been the subject of debate and conjecture since the 1920's, the excavations finally confirm its presence, potentially changing our understanding of the Mississippian metropolis, said Dr. Sarah Baires of the University of Illinois."

-Blake de Pastino, Western Digs

To read the full article, click here.

For more information about Cahokia, 

visit the Cahokia Mounds' website, here.

Western Reserve Historical Society

"inspire people to discover the American experience 

by exploring the tangible history of Northeast Ohio"

Outreach & Distance Learning

• To Your Classroom
• Into the Woods
• Pre-K - Grade 4
• "Compare and contrast the lifestyles of the Eastern Woodland American Indians with the Early Settlers! With artifacts brought to your classroom, hands-on activities compare their land use and daily life. Imagine what life was like for these early peoples, develop ideas about the similarities and differences in the ways cultures meet common human needs, and have fun! "
• From Sap to Syrup
• Kindergarten - Grade 12
• "Students discover the historical and significant role of maple sugar in local communities by comparing and contrasting American Indian and pioneer techniques of sugaring, sugar camp set up, and the collection and processing of sap into maple syrup and maple sugar."
• Loan-Out Trunks from Hale Farm & Village
• From Sap to Syrup
• Kindergarten - Grade 12
• "Students discover the historical and significant role of maple sugar in local communities by comparing and contrasting American Indian and pioneer techniques of sugaring, sugar camp set up, and the collection and processing of sap into maple syrup and maple sugar."

• Video Conferencing

The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

• Articles
• American Indians, Native Americans
• Black Hawk
• Cleveland American Indian Center, American Indian Intertribal Association
• Cleveland Indians (baseball team)
• Erie Indians or the Cat Nation
• Joc-O-Sot, or Walking Bear
• Libraries, Archives, and Historical Societies
• Massasagoes
• Menompsy (Nobsy)
• Ogontz (Ogantz)
• Ottawa
• Pilgerruh
• Prehistoric Inhabitants
• Red Jacket's Speech
• Stigwanish, Stigwandish, Stigonish, Seneca
• Images
• Maps
• Native American Trails, Mounds, and Fortifications in Cuyahoga County

• Subjects
• Exploration and Early Settlement
• Libraries and Museums
• Maps
• Historical Aerials
• Cleveland Public Library's Historical Map Collection
• Rails and Trails Historic Transportation Maps
• c1700 Indian Trails and Towns of Ohio
• 1802 Rufus Putnam (Ohio Land Subdivisions Report reproduction)
• Bluestone Heights Google Earth Overlays
• Native American Sites

Research & Collections

• Research Library
• Th-Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Library Catalog
• "consists of the Research Library’s published collections. If you are seeking books, family histories, pamphlets, microfilm, periodicals, or newspapers, this is the place to start."
• Manuscript & Photograph Collections Catalog
• "consists of the Research Library’s unpublished collections. If you are looking for personal papers, organizational records, photographs, or our Automotive Marque Files Collection, you will find them here."
• Museum Collections Catalog
• "consists of artifacts such as furniture, fine and decorative arts, costume and textile, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection, and other three-dimensional objects from our museum collections."
• Databases
• Biographical Sketch Name Index

Volunteer

Internships

• High School Senior Service Learning Projects
• Public History Experience
• "ideal for those thinking of entering into or working with: Museum Management, History Majors, Fundraising, Education, Interpretation, Non-profit management, Curatorial, Registrar, Exhibit design/production, Research and other jobs related to Historical Society functions.  
  
  All interns participating in this particular internship program attend a two-hour class once a week for 9 weeks learning about the practice of Historical Society operations. The rest of the week is spent working in your chosen environment learning best practices. Summer Public History Internships are available at both the History Center in University Circle, and at Hale Farm & Village in the Cuyahoga Valley.  "

Hours & Admission

Restoring Earthworks

Seip Mound during excavations by the Ohio Historical Society between 1925 and 1928 (top)
and after it was restored to its original appearance (bottom).
Image Courtesy of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

May 10, 2014.

Brad Lepper, of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written an interesting post about why restoring and preserving earthworks into as close to their original condition is important.

"It is my opinion that if the restoration efforts use the best available data on the original configuration of the earthwork and if future excavators would be able to clearly distinguish between the original fabric of the earthwork and any restorations and if the sites are interpreted honestly as restorations, then visitors would have a richer experience of the site and the potential for future research would not be unduly compromised."

-Brad Lepper, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

The Columbus Neighborhoods on WOSU TV

"WOSU Public Media’s Columbus Neighborhoods started as a documentary series to celebrate the city’s bicentennial in 2012 and has grown into an extensive community outreach project with storytelling sessions, public forums, lesson plans, news reports on 89.7 NPR News, and premiere events."

• About Columbus Neighborhoods
• Timelines
• "Key points in history of the communities featured in Columbus Neighborhood documentaries"
• University District
• Clintonville
• Lesson Plans
• "short digital learning objects classified into topics aligned to targeted academic standards have been created to bring Columbus’ vibrant history to life in the classroom. The video segments are supported by lesson plans—annotated and ready for easy retrieval and integration across curricula."

• Neighborhoods

WOSU Columbus Neighborhood's 

Clintonville Documentary Preview

To view the full documentary, click here.

The Minnesota Connection

May 11, 2014.

Brad Lepper, of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written an interesting post connecting Guy Gibbon's recent book Archaeology of Minnesota: the prehistory of the upper Mississippi river region to the Hopewell Interaction Sphere in Ohio.

"The list of exotic raw materials found at Minnesota sites includes copper, Knife River flint, and obsidian. Although there is no specific mention of Ohio materials, such as Flint Ridge flint, being found in Minnesota, Ohio Hopewell sites definitely include artifacts crafted from Minnesota pipestone."

-Brad Lepper, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

For more information about the Hopewell Interaction Sphere, 

visit our webpage or The Ancient Ohio Trail.

The Ohio State University students can  

view Archaeology of Minnesota by Guy Gibbon online, 

through our library, here. 

The  Archaeology of Minnesota is available for purchase through 

the University of Minnesota Press, here.

The Hopewell Interaction Sphere 

Video Courtesy of The Ancient Ohio Trail.