National Register of Historic Places

Adams County Paleo-Indian District

Sandy Springs, Adams County, Ohio
Listed
October 16, 1974
Type
Site
Period
Pre Contact
Ref No.
74001389

About this property

The Adams County Paleo-Indian District is an archaeological site near Sandy Springs in Green Township, Adams County, Ohio, United States. Approximately 10,000 years BP, the site was repeatedly occupied by groups of Paleo-Indians, who took advantage of its location near salt springs to hunt local wildlife. Artifacts found at the site are concentrated in multiple small middens that are believed to represent individual campsites. Among these artifacts are gravers, scrapers, and projectile points. Within a few years of the site's discovery, a 1982 report noted that it had yielded more than seventy fluted points (elsewhere identified as Clovis points), which the report's authors declared made it an example of "unusual size and complexity". Other researchers have designated them as Gainey Points. Such large sites as Adams County, or "Sandy Springs" as it is also known, are rare among Paleo-Indian sites; most discoveries related to the people are isolated finds, although a comparable archaeological district known as the Welling site has been discovered in Coshocton County, Ohio. It appears that southern Adams County was highly significant for such primitive peoples because of its geology: one of Ohio's few regions with combined shale and limestone bedrock, the Sandy Springs area is geologically similar to the Kentucky Bluegrass, making it a natural migration route for herds of animals roaming the Bluegrass. As a result, Paleo-Indian hunters learned to use the area to watch for and ambush large herds of animals, which would have been travelling slowly due to the large river. The Adams County Paleo-Indian Archeological District is particularly valuable as a well-preserved example of the Paleo-Indian period. It is believed that the portion of the site that has been excavated is smaller than the portion that has not yet been excavated. In recognition of its archaeological significance, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Approximately 175 acres (71 ha) is included in the landmarked area.

Location

Sandy Springs, Adams County, Ohio

Categories

PREHISTORICNATIVE AMERICAN
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Questions about this property

When was Adams County Paleo-Indian District listed on the National Register?

Adams County Paleo-Indian District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Adams County Paleo-Indian District?

Adams County Paleo-Indian District is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Adams County Paleo-Indian District?

The period of significance for Adams County Paleo-Indian District is recorded as the pre_contact era.

Can I research the history near Adams County Paleo-Indian District?

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