A visual guide to prehistoric artifacts found in Ohio.

The photos

In the scale at the right edge each line equals 1/8''

For maximum enlargement click on all sizes at the download icon then original size.

The artifacts

They are the results of more than a century of collecting by one family. Most originated in north central Ohio, with about five

hundred being from Pike county in south central Ohio. We have recorded the location where each artifact was found on

county plat maps - this applies to about 80% of all artifacts photographed.

None of these artifacts have been ''restored''

Part One Flint

Flints are the most commonly found artifacts. They were shaped using percussion and pressure.

The flake scars visible on them have preserved a record of their manufacture and use.

Many efforts have been made to classify them into ''types''.

Here we are going light on typology,avoiding questions such as;

When does a side notch become a corner notch ?

When does a corner notch become a stem ?

All of which can change in resharpening.

There is a growing database of carbon dates applicable to flint artifacts and in studying them we should remember that ;

Certain people, at certain times, flaked stone in distinctive ways.

Certain people, at certain times, favored certain stone for tools.