The Early Woodland period, which began circa 1000 BC, saw the Adena Indians develop basic agricultural skills. These Indians lived more to the south and central areas of Ohio, rather than the North, but they influenced later migrations of Indians who would settle the north, specifically around the Black River area.

Crops were cultivated, and other agricultural products were foraged. Plants known to be used included raspberries, strawberries, goosefoot, grapes, and a variety of nuts. They made pottery: they seem to be the first of the Native Americans to do so. Shards date back to 500 - 100 BC.

Burial mounds apparently held the buried bodies of their most important members. One mound near Chilliothe revealed that these people traded for copper, which is not found naturally in Ohio, but some distance away further into the Midwest. (I believe in Minnesota?)

Artifacts include images of the hawk and of the shoveller duck.



Link: The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency website.