Pestle   Save
Undocumented Artifacts from the First Ohioans Exhibit
Description: This stone pestle is of the barbell type. It is cylindrical in shape and narrower in the middle than at the ends, roughly resembling a barbell. It is largest in diameter at the bottom. The base is pitted and has a circular concavity, likely the result of use. The pestle is light brownish gray, speckled with dark gray. On the bottom of the pestle the stone is stained red, probably from grinding ocher, a powdered iron ore. Several pieces have broken off the rim of the base. There is a prominent scar in the middle, probably made by a farmer's plow. This piece is from the Archaic Period. The Archaic cultures in Ohio existed from about 6,000 B.C. to 1,000 B.C. Their economy was based primarily on hunting and gathering, but they did experiment with cultivating squash. Most Ohio sites are seasonal camps, created as the Indians moved due to the weather and the availability of food sources. Archaic peoples hunted smaller game than their Paleoindian predecessors, who pursued mastodons and giant beavers. The Archaic people hunted deer, elk, bear, rabbit, quail, and wild turkey. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: A4786_000052
Subjects: Prehistoric peoples; Stone implements; Tools, Prehistoric;
Places: Undocumented Artifacts from the First Ohioans Exhibit