Jeffers Mound Artifacts

These artifacts were uncovered during excavation of the Jeffers Hopewell Prehistoric Mound in 1985 by The Ohio State University Field School in Archaeology. Pictured here are two ground stone artifacts, five projectile points and seven other chipped stone artifacts. Dr. Richard Yerkes, Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University and his students looked for evidence of domestic activities and/or crafts workshops at the site. If domestic "middens"--prehistoric trash heaps--and other signs of everyday life were found, they would suggest that the Hopewell used the site as a long-term settlement. The team found a few projectile points and other artifacts, but not the confirmation they needed to suggest the site was occupied for long periods of time.

The land surrounding and including the area where the mound is located was part of the original Scioto Company land purchase. It was divided into farm lots for Scioto Company subscriber, William Vining. The mound and land immediately surrounding it was donated to the Worthington Historical Society in 1974 and the site was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.