Ohio Archaeologist

38 Pages·2012·5.05 MB·English

Ohio
Archaeologist
VOL. 1 N U M B ER 3
New Series * October 1951
Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society
C o l u m b u s, O h io
•*
HARD STONE BAR AMULETS
By Gordon F. Meuser, M. D.
Bar amulets, .made from materials other than slate, are of rare occurrence.
While they have a number of features characteristic to the slate bars, there
are enough differences to place them in a class of their own. As a whole, they
are heavily and imposingly made, with a higher and wider body. There is usually
a pronounced lengthwise ridge running over the top that terminates just short of
the ends, leaving in some cases, a partial groove between the ends and the ridge.
The ends are greatly exaggerated or flared, with some tendency toward convexity.
They are either "D" or triangular in shape. The drilling through the ends, when
present, is a straight, tapering hole, directed obliquely outward from the base,
with the large end underneath, instead of the usual double angulated perforat
ions present in the slate bar amulets.
The material from which these bars are fashioned is both hard and attract
ive — a combination which is always present. Gneiss apparently was most desir
able, since the majority are made from it. Unfortunately, the tendency for it
to weather and disintegrate has caused most specimens to lose most of their
original beauty* Colorful mottled granites were used, as were the rich shad
ings of quartzite.
Many of the bar amulets of hard stone are undrilled. They appear to be
completely finished, even to a high polish, but evidently the extreme hardness
of the material caused the maker to abandon the task of drilling. Close inspect
ion sometimes disclosed a higher polish in the grooves at the interval between
the flared ends and the longtitudinal ridge, suggesting perhaps that they were
worn smooth by the friction caused by a strip of buckskin or other material
fastened around them. Again, the drilling was barely started, or even some
headway had been made, when the difficulty of the project stopped the efforts
of the ancient craft aman.
There is no focal point of distribution of these bar amulets. They occur
generally throughout the state of Ohio. The majority are surface finds, but
several have been recovered from mounds. In Volume 7 of the Ohio Archaeological
and Historical Society Publications, page 161, iloorehead states in his field
notes that two of them, intentionally broken, were found in a mound on the
Corwin farm, one and one-half miles north of Waverly, Pike County, Ohio. With
them was placed a fine, pop-eye birdstone of the bust type, also intentionally
broken. There were no burials in the mound. In the accompanying illustration,
Number 2 was tr.ken from a mound near iiilford, Hamilton County, Ohio. Another,
somewhat larger, end broken into severed, fragments, was near it. It was origin
ally in the writer's collection, but is now owned by Hubert C. Wachtel, president
of our society. All specimens are illustrated half size.
Number 1 - Bold type, with unusually large ends, of weathered gneiss. Found
three miles east of lit. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio. A surface find.
Number 2 - Very fine specimen of reddish, mottled granite, completely drilled,
from a mound near Milford, Hamilton County, Ohio.
Number 3 - Beautifully made from yellow-green mottled granite, completely
drilled, from iiona Chapel, Ross County, Ohio. A surface find.
Number 4 - Highly polished, of green-black mottled granite, unperforated,
from Portage County, Ohio. A surface find.
Number 5 - Of gneiss, with some of the original polish, from Williams County,
Ohio. A surface find.
- 1 -
C 0 K T E N TS
Page
Hardstone Bar Amulets by Dr. Gordon F. Meuser 1
Contents 2
Officers o
Council Fire Echoes by President 4
Editorialana by the Editor 5_6
Ohio Ceremonial Spears by Dr. Leon Kramer 7-16
The Lee Mound by H. R. McPherson 17-23
Objects From Schisler Village Site by Phil Kientz 24-25
Excavation of Nolan Mound by Donald HcBeth 26-28
Dr. G. W. Miller 29
Fluted Points from Milan, Ohio by A. C. Smith 3C-31
Artifacts by Charles C. Smith, Modoc, Indiana 32-33
Birdstones by Cameron Parks, Garret, Indiana. 34
O F F I C E RS
President H. C. Wachtel, 307 Elmhurst Rd , Dayton, Ohio.
c
Vice-Pres Franlc Burdett, 112 East Main St., Springfield, Ohio.
Sec'y-Treas Ernest L. Spoon, R. R. #2, Miamisburg, Ohio.
D I R E C T O RS
Dr. Leon Kramer, Columbus, Ohio. LaDow Johnston, Toledo, Ohio.
Mr. P. F. Mooney, Ohio State Museum. Prof. Victor Hill, Athens, Ohio.
Earl Townsend, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Publishing Committee
Dr. G. F. Meuser - 2248 Summit St., Columbus, Ohio.
H. R. McPherson - Editor - 1116 Franklin Ave., Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Leon Kramer - 2581 E. Fifth Ave., Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. F. F. Mooney, Ohio State Iluseum, Columbus, Ohio.
LaDow Johnston, 2001 Toledo Trust Bldg., Toledo, Ohio.
B. E. Kelley, 138-140 S. Fayette St., Washington C. H., Ohio..
C. H. Bauer, 2866 E. 13th Ave., Columbus, Ohio.
David Collins, 627 Snow Hill Blvd., Springfield, Ohio.
PROGRAM COISUTTEE
Frank Burdett, Springfield, Ohio. P. F. Mooney, Ohio State Museum.
Dr. Leon Kramer, Columbus, Ohio. LaDow Johnston, Toledo, Ohio.
Prof. Victor Hill, Athens, Ohio.
George Carroll, Urbana, Ohio.
MB! T3ERSIIIP CO!.: :iTT5E
LaDow Johnston, Northwest Section. Dr. Leon Kramer, Central Section.
G. W. Dilley, Northeast Section. C. H. Kruger, Southwest Section.
Donald McBeth, Southeast Section.
Frank Burdett, Overall Section.
J. Zakucia, Eastern.
OBJECT OF Tig SOCIETY
The Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society is organized to discover and
conserve archaeological sites and material 7&thin the state of Ohio; seek
and promote a better understanding ar-ong collectors of archaeological material
including individuals, museums and institutions and to disseminate knowledge
as to subject matter of archaeology. The membership is composed of United
States citizens of suitable character and interest. The annual membership
dues is $3.00 payable June 1 each year. The funds are used for mailing
notices of meetings and publishing our "Bulletin" of which we aim to put out
four issues each year. Articles and pictures are furnished by the members.
Due credit should be given this publication and the author for
any article or data copied and published by others.
- 3 -
IMCIL P IS
wcnoim
'cs
• Srt7
Presidents Page
H. C. Wachtel
An interesting and busy year for
our society is on the wane again. I
believe we have progressed in our mem
bership and publications but there is
much to be desired, which is the view
point usually taken by one who is very anxious and selfish to see our growth into
a real collectors society. A society that every collector would feel it a orivilege
to be a part of. . •
.10
It has meant a lot of hard work, the unstinted use' of various members time
and also the fine cooperation being evidenced by the different committees. With
'proper organization of our committees a standard procedure can be sot up that will
make for something to follow in the future. The systematic handling of programs
and publishing should gradually remove the hazard of last.minute changes and
assure of interesting and instructive meetings and good publications.0
The committees would appreciate the members suomitting ideas for topics or
someone they know who could furnish seme interesting side lights and possibly
different meeting places. What would be wrong in having summer meeting at some
of Chxo's historical sites, say at Flint Ridge, Ft. Ancient, Serpent Mound,
5tC.
It would lend an air that would appeal to the younger group we are trying to
organize.
I have had it mentioned quite frequently this oast year about the commercial
izing of our hobby. After thinking it over I realize it is a rather vicious thing
we have with us. It makes it harder for the newer members to acquire pieces at
fair prices and in the end defeats the growth of s society. It is rather discon
certing to be persuaded to part with a piece you like, but which, through insis
tence, you let a fellow collector have for his own collection and then shortly
after find it has been passed on at quite a profit. You knew it:, actual value
and only let it go as a favor. Have you ever had a good friend say he would let
you have a certain piece and when you went after it find "Oh, I just couldn't re
fuse to let so and so have it. He gave me so and so for it." I have known of
cases where the continued suave insistence has eaused resistance to break down and
cherished pieces were let go to get relief. In other cases illness could not
stand up under a rigid campaign of the persistent insistence end the victims
cannot mention the pieces without tears coming to their eyes. It"would be better
to never have pieces than to get them under the above conditions. It may come
under the category of sharp trading or -resent day business ethics. I wonder?
This applies to most all collecting societies,not only Indian Relics.
- 4 -
EDITORIALANA
By the Editor
THE FIRST TEN YEARS
The Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society will soon have been in
existence for ten years. Any organisation which is fotuided modestly
and yet grows steadily must, of necessity, entertain high ideals and
promote worthy objectives. This Society must have measured up to such
standards for it was founded on "'larch 14, 1942, by a small group of
Ohio collectors and officials of the Ohio State Museum who oroclaimed
that
"The purposes for which this Society is organized
are to discover and conserve archaeological sites
and material within the State of Ohio;to seek and
promote a. better understanding among collectors of
archaeological material including individuals,
museums and institutions and to disseminate know
ledge as to the subject matter of archaeology"
all of which is published on page three of this issue.
From that time on the Society has progressed steadily until today
it has a membership roll of aLiwst 250 members from numerous states,
publishes an Interesting "quarterly magazine," holds regular instructive
and entertaining meetings and sponsors various projects which lead to
the increase of public knowledge and the advancement of science.
The main credit for the formation and organization of this Society
is due Dr. Gordon F. Leusjr, of Columbus, who had Ion-; soen the advantages
which should accrue equally to the collectors of Ohio and the Oiiio State
Museum both of which, to a degree, strive for similar objectives. Er.
Meuser found a receptive- advocate in the person of H. Holmes Ellis, then
the Assistant Curator of Archaeology at the Ohio State Museu.;.
Accordingly, a meeting was held at the Ohio State Museum on March
14, 1942, which was attended by Director Ghetrone, R. G. Morgan, Curator
of Archaeology, and Mr. Ellis, representing the Museum, and Dr. Meuser,
LaDow Johnston, Donald McBeth, Gilbert Dilley, Harold Mattox, Jacob Royer
and the late A. C. Spetnagel. At that tLme the groundwork was laid for the
organization of the Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society. Dr. Meuser was
chosen president ana Mr. Ellis its secretary-treasurer. Dues were set
at Ol.OO per year and a constitution was drafted and aao~ted at a subse
quent meeting held on August 9, 1942. Plans were .made to hold regular
meetings of the group and to issue som- sort of publication.
At the outset z series of numbered "Bulletins," in mimeographed
form, were issued at irregular intervals. These conveyed certain inform
ation relative to the b-siness transacted by the oocioty, progress attained,
announcements of future meetings and other pertinent data, Tnese "Bulletins"
were of from one to coveral oages in length and were issued from the Ohio
State Museum. This series continued through Bulletin No. 8, dated March,1944,
- 5 -
!
'' - s
after which the format was rearranged into a six - by nine - inch magazine
which was printed at Elyria, Ohio, by R. C. Vietzen, who became secretary-
treasurer of the Society on July 11, 1943. The "Bulletin" was published by
Mr. Vietzen, at irregular intervals as funds would, permit, beginning with
Bulletin No. 9, dated May 24, 1944* and continuing through Bulletin No. 22,
dated August, 1949.
Beginning with Bulletin No. 23, dated January, 1950, the publication-
was issued at Columbus with Gilbert Dodds as editor. Beginning with
Bulletin No. 24, dated June, 1950, the size was enlarged to 8| by 11 and
published under the same management as that of today - the editing in
Columbus and the printing at Dayton, by and through the Society's president,
who has thus rendered a very extensive and singular service to the Society
without remuneration. Had it not been for this -service the Society could
not have published as extensively as it has.
The last twenty issues of the Society's official publication, since
it has appeared in printed form, have carried much information which is
of wide-spread interest and some scientific value.
The second ten years shoulxi witness even greater achievements on
the part of the Society which merits a name more nearly in conformity
with its varied objectives and attainments,
•s:- -:;- # # ft « -;;- * -::- * * -;;- « * # # *
Volume 1 of the "Oxhio Archaeologist" is completed with this
issue. This step is taken in order that Volume 2 may begin with the new
year and henceforth volumes will open and close with calender years.
, * ft * -::- -;.- ft •«• *- -5;- # *- •>,:- -K- ft ft -B- ft
The collection of Byron Knoblock, of Quincy, Illinois, has been
acquired recently by Dr. T. Hugh Young, of Nashville, Tenn. The Knoblock
collection, one of the best private collections in the central we3t, con
sisted primarily of choice ferruginous quartz banner stones, discoidals
and pipes. Dr. Young also acquired the Fain White King collection, of
Wickiiffe, Kentucky, last spring. With both of these superb collections
added to the Young collection, which was already one of the outstanding
private collections, Dr. Young now possesses without doubt "The Number One
private collection of prehistoric American artifacts." Dr. and Mrs. Young
take genuine pleasure in welcoming their friends to their home and museum,
1527 Compton Avenue, Nashville, and a visit with them is not to be forgotten
* * « «• * « * « ft * « « # « ft -x- «
During the 1951 season the Ohio State Museum explored two mounds
in central Ohio. The "Cordray Mound," located about five miles east of
Newark, was completed during the summer. This proved to be of the Adena
Culture. Another mound, in Franklin County, and about three miles east
of Westerville, was explored during the fall.
- 6 -
OHIO CEREMONIAL SPEARS
by Dr. Leon G. Kramer.
Ever greater in the march of time looms the significance of thirty-odd
Stone Age projectile mannerisms which identify the Ohio Drainage Area as a melting
pot for numerous primitive human societies. Meriting honorable mention in this
galaxy of projectile styles, and dating back to early antiquity, are the "fluted"
and "unfluted" blades, Ohio "Folsom" and "Yuma" forms, which presumably figured
in an extensive nomadic hunting economy with human pursuits based upon subsistence
from large migratory herds.
The great Portsmouth Spear see article by Charles V, Wertz,bulletin
No. 24 of the Ohio Indian Relic Collectors Society — a gigantic 18-inch Yuma form,
its design characteristic of those recovered from the Ohio area, may in a select
ive manner connote the symbolism of the Ohio Renaissance Ceremonial Blades, from
an agronomic era — many centuries later. With such a vast lapse of time involved,
the question of generic relationship or continuity becomes an imponderable — how*,
ever several distinctive but infrequent projectile mannerisms may be interperted
as tentative transitional designs.
The famous "Spetnagel Cache" of more than 200 ceremonially broken
"turkey-tailed projectiles" recovered by the late Albert C. Spetnagel, during
the spring of 1922, from an excavation in the northeast surburbs of Chillicothe,
and within a very few miles of the Mound City Works of the Hopewell Culture,
also marks another manifestation of ceremonial offering. These spears are of
Indiana hornstone. It was possible to restore a large percentage of these spears
which range from three to ten and one-half inches in length and they are now on
display at the Ohio State Museum. See the article entitled "The Spetnagel Cache
of Flint Spear Points," by H. C. Shctrone, Ohio Archaeological and Historical
Society Publiscations, Vol. 32, pages 638-640, 1923.
It connotes the symbolism of the "bundle burial" and possibly indicates
a migratory drift from the southwest, and also that the classic "turkey-tailed
projectile" may have been an earlier outmoded Adcna-Hopewellian creation. The
many missing fragments from this cache have permitted a restoration of only
about half of the spears — due largely, it is believed, to the fact that the
pieces of the spears were scattered by v/oi-kmen before the discovery became known
to Mr. Spetnagel.
During this trend of early human events central-southwestern Ohio
became the cultural center of the fabulous "Adena-Hopewellian" Genesis —
a Stone Age renaissance era, with the cardinal Hopewellian custom of enclosing
various art masterpieces in great burial tumuli as votive offerings to the dead.
The Hopewellian phase of this great art era was apparently coeval and
integrated with the high volume production period of Ohio's famed Flint Ridge,
upon which was erected the Hazlett Mound (Hopewellian) with kindred village
sites collectively serving as monuments to this ancient wide-flung empire.
Why the destiny of this budding cultural group, with potentials fully
equal to the Egyptian, Andean or Mayan civilizations, was so rudely cut short
has always posed an enigma. Overpopulation with general social decadence and
declining food economy, the strain of the stupendous but futile Fort Ancient
Works project, and the "Iroquoian invasion" of about 1650, among others are each
or severally suggested as the possible illboding factors of this great .misfortune.
- 7 -
. V}°^ P^ctice of ceremonial burial offerings may have been more
or less indifferently followed during various periods and by different primitive
groups, it assumed the status of a behavior criterion in the Hopewellian phase
01 ohe Ohio Renaissance Era. The numerous apogean masterpieces so enclosed, to
be later recovered in burial association, are the well documented criteria of
this cultural group and bespeak the artifactural greatness of this era. Con
templatively, more than ever, does a given projectile design integrate with a
specific era, area, and human artifactural group.
In the Ohio ensemble of some 30 projectile types, six specific desVhS
are authenticated by the scientific exploration and documentation of the' Aderra^"*
Hopewellian burials: '••••• uiun
Ovate and disk blades. '•• .^j
Flat-based blades.
Stemmed blades with variations.
Corner-notched blades and straight, curved, and convex-based
unnotched.
Tentatively, the convex-based corner-notched small-stemmed
"dovetail."
Miscellaneous forms.
The material sources of these ceremonial projectile masterpieces are:
Harrison County, Indiana, Hornstone.
Flint Ridge.
Quartzite — perhaps from the glacial drift.
Quartz Crystals — probably from the Hot Springs, Arkansas, area.
Oosidian from the Yellowstone or Yosemite rcgi-ns.
Unidentified flints.
The sequential order in these cercmoniil tyoes or that of the mat-rial
as used in their artifacture presents many paradoxes and imponderables. Seem
ingly, nowever, the unnotched ovate types and stemmed projectile forms were from
the more remote phases of this era.
The corner-notched mannerisms and the use of obsidian were apparently
the characteristics of its presumably later or Hopewellian phase. In a sense
of averages, and presumably from an earlier less densely pooulated era, the
"stemmed" projectile motif is an established Adena trait. In like manner, but
presumaoly from a later and more populous era, the "corner-notched" projectile
is an established Hopewellian trait.
The several variations of "stemmed" projectile forms, occurring some
what paradoxically in Hopewellian association, foster a belief that though each
of the Adena and the Hopewell is an individual cultural entity, they may°be
collectively and essentially the same generic groin, their cultural individuali
ties being brought about by the lapse of time — the later more populous Hope
wellian oemg secondary to and culturally superimposed upon the Adena. Occas
ionally the anomalisms noted in the general artifacture of Adena-Hopewellian
studies bears out this same observation — to the extent that in the case of
certain individual artifacts a confused identity prevails. Even the specific
cultural identity of the Adena-Hopewellian burial has at times seemed contro
versial.
- 8 -