Dayton, Ohio was once home to ancient Native American groups and luckily through preservation efforts, we have the opportunity to explore these sites today.
Ancient Native American Sites of South Western Ohio
Dayton, Ohio was once home to ancient Native American groups and luckily through preservation efforts, we have the opportunity to explore these sites today.
Sunwatch Indian Village / Archaeological Park
2301 W River Road
Dayton, OH 45418
(937) 268-8199
Sunwatch is a reconstructed Fort Ancient village that was continuously inhabited for around 20 years over 800 years ago. Excavation on this site yielded information on the daily lives of the Fort Ancient people - their homes, their diet, and even their burials. By locating the post holes in the village, archaeologists were able to reconstruct the dwellings and common areas, which gives visitors a chance to not only learn about ancient Native American villages but also to experience them in a much more visual way. They called it Sunwatch for the central post holes in the plaza area of the village, which seem to correspond to the solar calendar. At Sunwatch, ancient America truly comes to life!
Fort Ancient
6123 St. Rt. 350
Oregonia, OH 45054
(513) 932-4421
Located in Warren County, Fort Ancient offers a fascinating look at prehistoric America. The Hopewell people built this hilltop enclosure by the Little Miami River almost 2000 years ago for what some believe may have been symbolically defensive purposes (there are gateways between all of the earthen embankments, so it would have been difficult to defend). Wright State students led by Dr. Robert Riordan have been excavating and researching the artifacts found here for many years. This ancient earthwork can be visited year round, it is surrounded by hiking trails, and also has a museum on premises. Fort Ancient is the perfect place to enjoy ancient Native American technology and ingenuity in a beautifully scenic environment.
Serpent Mound
3850 SR 73
Peebles, OH 45660
1 (800) 752-2757
No other Ohio earthwork is more popular than Serpent Mound, located in Adams County. Serpent Mound is a perfect example of an effigy mound - it is shaped like a snake eating an egg (or a snake with an enlarged eye, etc.). Just about every possible detail of Serpent Mound is contested by various groups but some facts remain: Radiocarbon dating places the construction within the Fort Ancient period, although other cone-shaped mounds in the surrounding area seem to belong to the Adena. Even more controversial is what the mound was built for in the first place. Some believe it was built to house the remains of people from a nearby community, others believe that it was built to please gods due to a few unusual astronomical occurrences in the time period, and of course aliens have a possible role according to some. No matter why it was built, it is definitely a lot of fun to visit Serpent Mound and ponder its origins.
Too cold? Actually, autumn and winter are perfect for exploring ancient Native American sites because leaves are no longer blocking the view. Why not spend a weekend learning more about Dayton and southwestern Ohio's first neighborhoods?
