Primer of Ohio Archaeology: The Mound Builders and the IndiansShetrone, H. C.
History
Primer of Ohio Archaeology: The Mound Builders and the Indians
Shetrone, H. C.
Indians of North America -- Ohio; Mound-builders -- Ohio; Ohio -- Antiquities
[Illustration: Fig. 20—Primitive Agricultural Implements.]
Although the Mound-builders, like all primitive peoples, drew freely on
nature’s bounty for food supplies, such as hunting, fishing and
gathering wild nuts, fruits, and roots, they had developed agriculture
to a considerable degree. Tending their crops with rude Hoes made from
clam shells (A) and shoulder blades of the deer (B), they produced corn,
beans, squash, tobacco, etc. It is probable also that some of the burial
mounds were built with the aid of such Hoes, which were used for
loosening the soil and scraping it into baskets and carrying bags.
THE USE OF BONE
[Illustration: Fig. 21—Implements of Bone.]
Next to Stone and Flint, the Mound-builders prized Bone for making
implements and ornaments. Above (B, C) are shown two Bone Awls, which
served for piercing leather and bark, and also as “tableware” in eating
their meals. Other things made from bone were Harpoons and Arrowheads
(A), Fish Hooks (D), Scrapers (F), Hoes, Needles (E), and Ornaments such
as Beads and Pendants.
With some of the Ohio Mound-builders and prehistoric Indians, Bone was
almost as important as Flint and Stone, and was used for many different
purposes.
USE OF CLAY FOR POTTERY
[Illustration: Fig. 22—Vessels of Burned Clay.]
The Mound-builders and some of the Indians made their pots and pans out
of clay, of which there is a great abundance in the river valleys of
Ohio. They tempered or hardened the clay by mixing it with ground-up
rock or shells, molded it into the desired shape, and baked the vessel
in an open fire.
Many of these ancient pots have designs like “B” and “C,” which were
made with small sticks, or perhaps with pieces of flint or bone, before
burning.
In size, pottery vessels range all the way from that of a thimble to a
bushel basket. They were used for the most part for cooking, storing and
preserving food, but many of the highly decorated pots found in the
mounds were probably made purposely as tributes to the dead.
SPINNING AND WEAVING
[Illustration: Fig. 23—Mound-builder Cloth.]
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