Ohio History Journal

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

PUBLICATIONS

 

SOME OHIO CAVES AND ROCK SHELTERS BEARING

EVIDENCES OF HUMAN OCCUPANCY

 

 

BY H. C. SHETRONE,

Curator of Archaeology

 

 

CANTER'S CAVES -- KETTLE HILL CAVE

Caves, caverns and rock-shelters are fruitful sources

of archaeological evidence, particularly as regards the

early phases of human development. Primitive humans

the world over very naturally repaired to these ready-

made retreats in time of stress, whether from inclement

weather, danger from wild beasts or threats from their

own kind. Thus every cave is a potential prehistoric

habitation.

Augmentation of the floors of caves through deposi-

tion of wind-blown and water-carried debris and soil

and through decomposition of the rock in which they

occur, provides an ideal repository for the material evi-

This report, dealing with the so-called Canter's Caves and Kettle

Hill Cave, admittedly is incomplete and is submitted as a preliminary paper,

to be supplemented later by fuller information. It is the sentiment of the

Society that where exhaustive exploration cannot be anticipated immediately,

the results of partial examination should not be withheld from the public

and the student. No attempt is made to include herein studies of the

skeletal material and textiles found in the shelters.

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dences left within them by erstwhile occupants. Where

caves are free from excessive moisture even the more

fragile and perishable materials may be preserved.

Without the evidences afforded by the caverns and shel-

ters of western Europe, much that is known of the early

chapters of human history would remain unrecorded.

The Devonian and Silurian limestone areas of west-

ern Ohio contain numerous caves or caverns, while the

sandstone series of the eastern one-half of the state pre-

sent many rock-shelters, so-called. The former have

been carefully studied, described and mapped* as to

physical features, but have not been examined for pre-

historic human occupancy. However, it is known that

several and perhaps most of them bear evidences of

such use. On the whole they are not well adapted to

habitation purposes, since for the most part they lie

in the heavily glaciated area where topographical relief

is not great. The exceptions are the several caves on

Rocky Fork Creek, in Highland County, the entrances

to which are from the side of the deep valley of the

stream, in contrast to the sink-hole openings to the more

northerly caves.

Locations of limestone caves and caverns, and of

rock-shelters which have yielded evidences of human

habitation, are shown on the accompanying map. In

each instance, the names of the more important are

given.

Rock-shelters are abundant throughout the coal

measures of south-central Ohio, particularly in the

Black Hand and the Sharon conglomerates of Fairfield,

Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Scioto and adjoining coun-

* White, George W., "Limestone Caves and Caverns of Ohio"; Ohio

Journal of Science, Vol. XXVI, No. 2, 1926.

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters       3

ties. Within these areas, and throughout the sandstone

exposures in either direction adjacent to the Ohio River,

there are hundreds of shelters, for the most part small

and unimportant. They have received but scant atten-

tion geologically and, with the exceptions herein noted,

have not been examined for human remains. Probably

the greater number bear some evidence of use by primi-

tive man. For the most part the rock-shelters are ex-

posed and to an equal degree wet, or moist. A few are

of appreciable size and wholly or in part quite dry.

The only systematic exploration of Ohio rock-

shelters so far effected, up to the present, was conducted

by Professor William C. Mills,* in three shelters located

in Jackson County, Ohio. These shelters, known as

Boone Rock, Buzzard Rock and a third without name,

yielded a quantity of materials of the usual sort, but

nothing of a perishable nature, although their floors,

in part, were fairly dry. Animal and bird bones, bone

awls, flint implements and fragments of pottery-ware,

occurring rather sparsely, indicated but temporary occu-

pancy by tribes culturally rather low. The finding, at

or near the surface of the floor in one of these caves,

of several small objects of European origin, indicated

that use of the shelters had continued until contact had

been established between the Indians and the whites.

For the most part the occupants were demonstrably the

Algonquian Indians of the region, with occasional visits

from the Hopewell mound-building culture peoples, as

evidenced by the finding of fragments of Hopewell

pottery.

 

* Mills, William C., "Archaeological Remains in Jackson County,"

Certain Mounds and Village Sites in Ohio, Vol. II, part 2.

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CANTER'S CAVES

The uncertainty of results attending archaeological

exploration is well exemplified in comparing the meager

returns from the above-mentioned shelters with another,

only a few miles removed. Canter's Caves, so-called,

are located about five miles northwest of the town of

Jackson, in Jackson County, Ohio. The caves -- which

in reality are twin shelters, known locally as Echo Cave

and Indian Cave -- are situated on the east side of Little

Salt Creek, the general course of which is from south-

east to northwest. The valley of the stream, in this

particular locality, is quite narrow, forming a typical

"hollow." Its borders are precipitous, as a result of

erosion of the Sharon conglomerate and the gradual

lowering of the stream bed. The caves are many feet

higher than the present level of the creek, and while the

stream primarily is responsible for their origin, decom-

position of the conglomerate rock certainly is in great

part responsible for the present size of the shelters.

On the archaeological map of Ohio, Jackson County

appears as an anomaly. It is fairly dotted with mounds

and other prehistoric human remains while the remain-

der of the extensive area of unglaciated territory of

southern and southeastern Ohio is practically devoid of

such evidences. Although too rugged and broken to

invite primitive human occupancy, there are, within a

radius of ten miles of the center of the county, 170

burial mounds, a score of identified camp and village-

sites, half a dozen earthen enclosures and a striking

group of petroglyphs or rock pictures. Of the thirty or

more rock-shelters within the area, practically all show

evidences of occupancy. The answer is -- salt.

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters        5

The saline springs* located on the headwaters of

Salt Creek, at the center of the county, were the magnet

which brought into this otherwise forbidding territory

countless streams of aborigines through a long period

of time. That the population of the region was tran-

sient, is evidenced by the fact that practically all the

mounds are small, mostly covering a single burial; the

village- and camp-sites are unpretentious and clearly of

temporary or intermittent occupancy; while the rock-

shelters, with one or two exceptions, show but transitory

habitation.

It is a matter of regret that scientific and exhaustive

examination of Canter's Caves cannot be reported. Mr.

George N. Miller, owner of the tract on which the shel-

ters are located, in converting the site into a pleasure

resort in 1925, discovered and removed numerous evi-

dences of human occupancy therein. Fortunately, Mr.

Miller, although unaware at the time of the scientific

interest of his finds, possessed an innate sense of orderly

procedure. The two shelters were carefully dug over,

all specimens, including even flint chips and animal and

bird bones, being preserved. In the instance of fabrics

and other perishable materials, he displayed an ingenu-

ity in the matter of removal and preservation worthy of

a trained explorer. Later, he graciously turned over to

the Museum the greater part of his material for study

purposes and display.

In anticipation of this report, the writer spent some

time at the shelter site in company with Mr. Miller, se-

curing all available measurements, photographs and field

notes.

 

* For description, see Professor Mills' report, previously cited.

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6        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications The larger of the two shelters -- known locally as Echo Cave -- measures 108 feet wide at its mouth and has a maximum depth of 55 feet. Its floor is oval or roughly semicircular in form, and drops off sharply at its northern end or side to the bottom of the gully where, 60 feet below, is a fine spring of water. The opening

of the shelter is toward the east. The roof, at the open- ing, is approximately 50 feet in height and diminishes gradually toward the back, where it varies from three to five feet in height. The accumulation of sand, soil and ashes within the shelter varies in thickness from one foot to four feet. Numerous large detached boulders of sandstone conglomerate lie upon and embedded in

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the accumulated debris. A view of Echo Cave is shown

in Fig. 1.

The second shelter, known as Indian Cave, is a few

rods to the southwest of Echo Cave. It is somewhat

smaller, but corresponds closely in its physical aspects

to the larger cave. In form, it is roughly triangular and

has, toward its northern extremity, a low extension,

oval in form, about 30 feet long, two to three feet high

and eight to 16 feet in width. The photograph (Fig. 2)

affords a view of Indian Cave.

In the shelter known as Echo Cave, Mr. Miller found

a total of seven burials -- four adults, a child, and two

infants. Three of the adult burials lay near the back

wall of the shelter, toward its north end. A third adult

skeleton, minus the skull, was located underneath the

edge of a large sandstone boulder detached from the

roof of the shelter and located 12 feet out from the

back wall about midway from north to south. Owing

to the extremely dry conditions prevailing in the rear

of the shelter, portions of the skin and tissues of the

body were desiccated, thus retaining the bones of the

skeleton in place. Parts of a blanket or garment of

roughly woven fabric (Fig. 3) were in place about the

hips. This skeleton was removed intact and is now on

exhibition in the Museum.

Beneath the edges of the same boulder, there were

found the skeletons of two children and an infant. To-

ward the front of the shelter, north of center, there was

located a large fireplace, around which were scattered

burned stones, potsherds and animal and bird bones.

The skeleton of a young adult, partly cremated or

accidentally burned, was enveloped in a vest-like gar-

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters      9 ment of plaited rushes with a facing of deerskin leather. (Fig. 4.) This skeleton, found near the center of the cave, had been disturbed, possibly by rodents. Only the bones of the arms and torso remained, with the enclosing garment. With the exception of the above-mentioned skeletons, all relics found in the shelter were scattered promiscu- ously through the debris of the cave.

In addition to the material artifacts common alike to each of the shelters, to be noted presently, Echo Cave produced a number of interesting and distinctive speci- mens. Among these is a pouch (Fig. 5), rectangular in form, of a loose reticular weave, the material being flat splint-like fibers. The specimen is about seven inches wide and long. Within it were found seven bone awls, only partly finished, made from split sections of the leg-

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters     11 bone of the deer. This pouch was found in close prox- imity to the partly cremated skeleton bearing the vest- like garment, and may have been deposited with it and later dislodged by rodents. The form and character suggest that it was worn at the belt. The vest-like garment, mentioned above, is shown in Fig. 4. It is fragmentary, portions having been de- stroyed by the fire, either accidental or intentional, which

consumed a portion of the body or skeleton on which the garment was found. An interesting basket (Fig. 6) was found in the debris of this shelter. It suggests the modern shopping bag, and is woven of coarse grass. Most striking of the various objects from Echo Cave are a series of sandals (Figs. 7 and 8) representing an unexpected degree of textile artistry and some unusual features. A characteristic of these sandals is the long

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters    13 broad flap or "tongue," integral with the weaving at the toe, and extending backward and upward to cover and protect the instep. As contrasted to the flat sandal, in- tended merely to protect the sole of the foot, those from Canter's Caves are semi-moccasin in type, woven in such manner as to extend part way up the sides and back of the foot. Cross-lacings of twisted cords and thongs, passing through the loops at either side of the sandal

secured them in place. The materials from which these sandals are woven are Nolina georgiana, and bast, or bark fiber. Five adult skeletons were found in Indian Cave, four of which were placed along the back wall proper and one just within the recess or extension of the shelter at the north. In the accumulated litter within the shelter, was found a large and remarkably well-preserved portion of a fish-net, shown in Fig. 9. This net fragment measures

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16       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

16 by 18 inches, with regularly spaced meshes three-

eighths inch across. The thread is spun from the fiber of

the Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and is fine

and firmly made. The only other articles of more than

usual interest found in this shelter were numerous frag-

ments of twine and cord, illustrated in Fig. 10.

OBJECTS COMMON TO BOTH SHELTERS.

Numerous minor objects, indicative of the culture of

their occupants, were found alike in each of the two

shelters at Canter's Caves. These include flint arrow-

points, a few hammer-stones and two or three stone celts

or ungrooved axes; numerous potsherds; bone awls;

occasional worked bits of wooden objects; many frag-

ments of woven fabric, cord and twine; samples of bark

and plant fibers, strips of skin and leather, cut, fringed,

sewed and twisted; innumerable animal and bird bones.

The flint arrow-points are fairly abundant, of rather

indifferent workmanship, and are made chiefly from

native chert and from the Vinton County black flint.

The greater number of them are notched or stemmed

(the former predominating) while a smaller percentage

are of the triangular unnotched type. A single flint

arrow-point with the fiber wrapping with which it had

been attached to the arrow-shaft, was found (see Fig.

11, center row, extreme right). Portions of wooden

arrow-shafts, both proximal and distal ends, were found,

but none with the flint point in place. Several tips of

shafts, pointed and slightly charred as though to harden

them, were found. The hammer-stones from these shel-

ters were merely water-worn boulders showing slight

indications of use; the two or three celts found were

fragmentary and of the usual form.

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters     17 Pottery fragments from both shelters are alike and are from ware of fair quality. Tempering materials are shell and pulverized rock or coarse sand, with shell pre- dominating. For the most part the surface is plain, but cord-marked and fabric-marked ware is not unusual. In a few specimens rudimentary lugs occur at the rim, deco-

rated with incisions or notches. A single handle from a vessel occurs. Fragments of very heavy vessels suggest their use in salt-making. The range of surface treat- ments is shown in Fig. 12. Bone awls from the two shelters are for the most part of the splint variety. A few are made from sections Vol. XXXVII-2.

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18       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications of the leg-bones of the wild turkey and other large birds and a single one from the metapodial bone of the deer. A few specimens are drilled or grooved for suspension. The range of forms is shown in Fig. 13. Three interesting objects of wood are shown in Fig. 14. Above is a tubular section of wild cane, suggesting

use as a pipe-stem. The tube is scarred at each end, as though from being held between the teeth. However, no tobacco-pipes were found in the shelters, nor in any others so far examined in southern Ohio, and there is no evidence of smoking by the occupants. In the illus- tration, in addition to the cane tube, are shown a small wooden wedge, and a section of twig or vine lashed to the stem of a plant.

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters      19 Examples of woven fabric, twined and braided cord, skins and leathers are shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. Determinations of the vegetable fibers represented in the textile activities of the occupants of the two shelters were made for the Museum by Professor J. H. Schaff- ner, of the department of botany, Ohio State University. The most interesting of the several varieties of fibers is

the Nolina georgiana, or Britton, which occurs perhaps more frequently than any other. The Nolina, a tall grass-like plant growing on the southeastern seaboard (Georgia and Florida) was used extensively in the weaving of sandals. A number of the dried Nolina plants (see Fig. 15) constituted a part of a large mass of raw material for use in preparing thread and twine found in Echo Cave. Other vegetable fibers and sub- stances identified were: Big Bluestem grass (Andro

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20       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications pogon furcatus Muhl), Little Bluestem  (Andropogon scoparius Michx.); Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannibin- um L., Asclepias incarnata L., Asclepias pulchra, Lin- aria linaria and Abutilon abutilon); American Linden (Tilia americana) and several of the Monocotylea. The seeds and shells of the pumpkin (cucurbita pepo L.) and

the gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris Ser.) were in evidence, as were all the common native nuts, wild grapes and other fruits. Corn-cobs were in moderate occurrence. The list of animal and bird bones comprised most of the common native species, with those of the deer and wild turkey predominating, and the rarer species, such as the fisher, porcupine and otter, absent. Shells of the mussel and the turtle were present in moderate quantity;

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters     21 fish-bones were present, but rare, despite the proximity of the shelters to the stream. KETTLE HILL CAVE The Rock-Shelter known as Kettle Hill Cave is situ- ated in Berne Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, about three miles south of the city of Lancaster. The shelter

is located at about the center of the curve of a crescent- shaped wall of sandstone (Black Hand conglomerate) some three-fourths of a mile in circumference and open- ing toward the south. The sandstone wall varies from 30 to 70 feet in height and for the most part is pre- cipitous and cliff-like, with numerous smaller shelters flanking the principal one at its center. The depression

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22       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications within the curve is the old bed of the Hocking River, which since has changed its course, and is now occupied by a small tributary of that stream. Immediately below

and in front of the cave is a fine spring of water of unfailing flow. The entire region is wooded and strik- ingly secluded. The interesting flora is that of the noted

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters    23

Sugar Grove district, of perennial attraction to the bot-

anist owing to its archaic character. All in all, Kettle

Hill Cave was an admirable and inviting abode for prim-

itive man, and that it was recognized as such is evidenced

from the numerous "relics" found therein throughout

the past several decades.

For many years throughout the early history of Fair-

field County, Kettle Hill Cave was a rendezvous for

fugitives from the law, particularly those of the variety

known as horse thieves. Early county records show

that at one time heavy equine tribute was levied upon the

rural inhabitants, until concerted action on the part of

county authorities succeeded in "rounding up" the mis-

creants and capturing them within the confines of Kettle

Hill Cave. The records were borne out through the find-

ing, by the writer, of numerous fragments of harness

and other horse equipment during the partial examina-

tion of the shelter with which this paper deals.

Kettle Hill Cave measures 157 feet in length, 29

feet in maximum depth and is 35 feet from floor to roof

at outer center. From four to six feet of debris, con-

sisting of habitation refuse, aeolian deposits, decom-

posed sandstone and blocks of the component rock rang-

ing in size from inconsiderable fragments to pieces of

several tons weight, covers the floor of the shelter.

Views of the shelter are shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18.

In the spring of 1925, local Boy Scouts, armed with

the common knowledge that relics were to be found in

the shelter, engaged in desultory digging. Their efforts

produced a number of objects of the usual sort, and a

remarkably interesting burial. This burial (Fig. 19)

was that of a female, of early middle life, which had

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters    27

been deposited just below the surface of the debris, be-

neath the inclined edge of a large block of sandstone.

The body had been buried in a flexed position, on the

right side. Owing to the extreme dryness of the shel-

ter, the skeleton, as well as the skin and tissues envel-

oping it and a burial shroud consisting of several thick-

nesses or folds of woven fabric, were remarkably well

preserved.

Fortunately, news of the discovery came to the atten-

tion of Robert Goslin, of Lancaster, a local student of

archaeology, who since has served as field assistant to

the writer. Mr. Goslin repaired to the scene and effected

the removal of the "mummy" with consummate care.

In the spring of 1926, the writer, in company with

Mr. Goslin, spent one week in a preliminary examina-

tion of Kettle Hill Shelter. It was found that prac-

tically the entire deposit to a depth of two to three feet,

had been worked over by the Boy Scouts and by other

local relic hunters who had preceded them. These early

searchers, it is learned, had removed several skeletons,

none of which presented the accidental mummification

noted in the foregoing burial. They secured many flint

arrow-points, pottery fragments, bone awls and a single

"birch-bark" sandal.

Our examination disclosed that the heavy deposit

within the shelter was proverbially dust-dry, so that its

examination was attended with marked discomfort. The

mere setting of a foot upon its surface sufficed to raise a

cloud of dust, and when disturbed by the shovel or the

trowel, the air immediately became charged with im-

palpable dust particles. Owing to lack of time, only

sufficient examination was effected to make certain that

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28       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

further amateur digging would not disturb remains of

an important character. While no further burials were

disclosed, objects of interest rewarded this partial ex-

ploration. Surprisingly enough, only the upper two feet

of the deposit appeared to be prolific in occupation evi-

dences, while beneath lay a more or less sterile belt of

about equal thickness. At one point only was the deposit

removed to the floor, where scant charcoal and ash, a

few bits of charred bone and flint chips indicated habi-

tation. Thorough examination of this shelter, planned

for the future, may reveal very early occupation, pos-

sibly by a pre-pottery people. Although no pottery was

in evidence in the lower levels examined -- an area of

approximately ten feet square -- the assumption of pre-

pottery habitation on such scant evidence would be, of

course, unjustified. It is felt, however, that any existing

evidence of very early habitation of the Ohio area will

be found, if at all, in such shelters as that at Kettle Hill

Cave.

An interesting object unearthed from the debris of

the shelter is the petroglyph shown in Fig. 20. The stone

itself, a detached fragment of the component sandstone,

roughly rectangular in form and measuring approxi-

mately 20 inches across in either dimension, apparently

is from the roof or side of the shelter. On it are incised

the boldly outlined figures of two human beings with

bird-like heads and flowing hair or head-dresses. Por-

tions of other similar figures may be discerned, the sev-

eral individuals apparently forming a procession, each

with a hand outstretched as if to grasp the hair of the

preceding one.

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters      29 A single sandal, in fragmentary condition (Fig. 21), was found to be similar in every respect to those secured at Canter's Caves and noted elsewhere in this report. Most interesting, perhaps, of the objects secured

from this shelter is a feather neck-piece, shown in Fig. 22. This interesting ornament, in a gratifying state of preservation, is made from feathers of the owl and the wild turkey, closely interwoven with bast fibers into a crescentic, gorget-like form, with double twisted cords

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Some Ohio Caves and Rock Shelters     31 at either end for fastening about the neck. The original sheen or lustre is still retained on one or two of the turkey feathers. In Figure 23, left, are shown several objects of wood. At the extreme left is a five-inch section of a slender twig, about one end of which is a closely-knit covering of

twined cord. Adjoining it in the photograph is a section of wild grape-vine, with one end wrapped in pliable leather and bearing a red pigment. This specimen sug- gests use as a paint-brush. Above this specimen and adjoining it are two sections of wooden arrow-shafts, and a wooden awl or needle. The three specimens to the right of the photograph are typical splint bone awls.

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32       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

The faunal remains found in this shelter were those

of the commoner animals and birds, with the wild turkey

and the deer predominating, as at Canter's Caves. The

mussels and fish were somewhat more in evidence than

at the latter shelters.

Determination of vegetable remains and plant fibers,

by Professor J. H. Schaffner, of Ohio State University,

disclosed two interesting developments. While use of

Nolina fibers, so much in evidence at Canter's Caves,

seems to be absent, employment of Asclepias incarnata

was much in evidence. In conjunction with a large mass

of partially prepared fibers, consisting mainly of the

Indian Hemp, was a fine pod and stem of the plant,

which most readers will recognize as that of the slender,

graceful Swamp Milkweed, sometimes called Indian

Hemp (Asclepias incarnata), Fig 24. A second devel-

opment was that of the determination of the fiber used

in certain heavy rope-like braided cord (Fig. 25), as

being that of the Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium

aquaticum L.).

The commoner objects found in the debris of Kettle

Hill Shelter, including flint arrow-points, potsherds, and

so forth, were in every respect identical with those found

at Canter's Caves, and by Professor Mills at the Boone

and Buzzard Shelters, in Jackson County. It seems in-

dubitable that for the most part the occupants of the

rock-shelters of southern Ohio, in so far as examined,

were the Algonquian tribesmen of pre-Columbian and

proto-historic times. Evidences of intensive or remote

occupancy are lacking, with the exception noted for

Kettle Hill Cave, where early occupancy is indicated but

unproved. In Jackson County, where the salt springs

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Vol. XXXVII-3.             (33)

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34       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications doubtless attracted all alike, the shelters bear some scant evidence, such as isolated potsherds, of the presence of the highly developed Hopewell Culture, and perhaps of still others as yet unidentified.

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