American Indian Life in the Early Woodland Period   Save
Education Collection
Description: Scene depicting an Early Woodland/Adena (2800-2000 B.P.) gathering at a ceremonial earthwork in the Hocking River Valley. The Adena people of this period constructed circular earthen enclosures which were used as sites for ceremonies and social events. A hunter can be seen holding spears and an atlatl as he oversees the ceremony taking place, with Adena men and women performing a ritual using wolf skins. In the distance can be seen the encampment which would be constructed for use during ceremonial periods until participants returned to their home settlements in the region. The large enclosure seen here is modeled on similar earthworks along the Hocking River in Athens County, Ohio. This painting comes from the "Ancient Ohio" art series, a series of six artworks showing the major archaeological periods from Ohio history. Each painting in the series is based on extensive research and consultation with experts and American Indian scholars. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05217
Subjects: Adena Culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100); Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; American Indian history and society; Earthworks (Art)--United States
Places: Hocking River Valley; Ohio