Ohio Historical Center

Described by the 1989 Smithsonian Guide to Historic America as "probably the finest museum in America devoted to pre-European history,"  The display contains dated exhibits, but the artifacts never go out of style.  The overall exhibit is designed as a walk through that takes the visitor from Historic Period American Indians through Ohio Paleo Man.  Each time period and culture is given ample space and tremendous representation that attest to the industry of these prehistoric people.  In my opinion, the Prehistoric Ohioan exhibit is top notch and blows away all others I have visited.  The museum is located at 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211.  Their phone number is: 614.297.2300.

 

The Adena Pipe:

This piece sits right up there with the best of the best of any prehistoric North American artifact. Found by William C. Mills in the Adena mound, it is a human effigy pipe carved from Ohio Pipestone. Interestingly, the human figure is of a dwarf. This is the signature artifact of the Adena Culture.

Hopewell Boatstone

The Field Museum in Chicago owns most of the great Hopewell boatstones, but this one remains in Ohio. This piece represents a nesting Hawk with inset fresh water pearl eyes. The bottom is hollowed out. It was found in deposit #1 of Mound 25 of the Hopewell group.

Birdstone Display

To call this an impressive array of birdstones, would be an understatement. Probably the largest single collection of birdstones outside of the Gilcrease Center.

Single Birdstone from Display

My personal favorite. The birdstone falls within the subtype of Pop-Eyed Porphyry birdstone with protruding ridges on the base, undercut jaw, turned-up snubbed beak and an Oval upswung tail. I would also classify the piece as a natural eye variety with the porphyry phenocryst as the eye. Quite a mouthful and an unbelievable piece.

Tremper Mound Pipes

I have argued that the effigy pipe cache found at Tremper Mound is the most valuable cache of prehistoric North American artifacts ever found. This is one of two diplays completely full of effigy pipes from a ceremonial crematorium located within the Tremper Mound.

Tremper Pipe.

Dog howling at the Moon. First use of this popular motif in high art. One of my two favorites.

Tremper Pipe:

Hawk effigy. The natural pose of this hawk captures the soul of the creature. Bird watchers know this pose well. One of my two favorites.

Clovi from display

These three specimen's can only be described as "exceptional".

Late Paleo Lance's

My favorite flint form. Large parallel percussion flaking, minute pressure edge retouch and unreal thinness make these pieces very special.