In Ohio, archeologists have conducted many digs to document early life and times. In Sheffield, they unearthed an entire Native American homestead that is roughly 4000 years old. At the Adena Mound in Chillicothe, a pipe was found. It is believed to be an effigy (model) of an ancient American Indian. The Adena pipe has been named the official state artifact of Ohio.
Class Discussion Questions:
1) Research archaeologists. What skills must an archeologist have to be successful?
Read the Script:
Earlier in the show, you heard about the discovery of 'super-henge', a 4,000 year-old stone monument, which was only recently unearthed in the United Kingdom. But we've had some pretty cool digs on our side of the pond, too.
Archeologists here in Ohio have recently unearthed an entire homestead that's roughly 4,000 years old. Located west of Cleveland in Sheffield, Ohio, the dwelling is so old that the people who once lived there don't even have a tribe name to classify them! Archeologists, the scientists who study prehistoric people and cultures, believe that multiple families probably lived in the simple dwelling, which was built with yellow clay. Archeologists also found hide-smoking pits, which were probably used to tan or prepare hides for clothing.
But perhaps one of Ohio's most remarkable artifacts was discovered at the turn of the century on the prehistoric Adena Indian mound in Chillicothe. The so-called Adena pipe was carved from Ohio pipestone sometime from 800 BC to 1 AD, when the Adena people lived in Central and Southern Ohio. According to some archeologists, the 10-inch smoking pipe reveals how this prehistoric tribe dressed and wore their hair.
The pipe is so unique that, in 2013, students at the Columbus School for Girls worked with Ohio legislators to name the Adena pipe the official state artifact of Ohio.
Instructional Links
Website: Ohio History Connection, Adena Pipe
Website: Ancient Egypt Coloring Pages
Website: British Museum Ancient Egypt Article, games, interactive activities
Website: History.com, Nefertiti