Ohio Archaeological Society

Visit the main site at http://www.ohioarch.org/

John Vargo  specializes in  Native American History and Trails. He has participated in many local Archaeological digs in the tri-county area. He attended and was guest speaker at a chapter meeting where he had a large display of  various Native American artifacts. 

John “Bugs” Vargo - holding skull

HELP PRESERVE OHIO’S
ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE
¨      Join the largest state archaeological society in the United States – Now in our 60th year!
¨      The $25.00 membership fee includes four issues of the prestigious Ohio Archaeologist – the only regularly published journal on Ohio and Midwestern.
¨      Make check or money order payable to: The Archaeologist Society of Ohio, 6478 Winchester Blvd. – Suite 120, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
¨      Include your name and complete mailing address

John Vargo discussed different Indian Tribes that have lived in Ohio and also referred to the various Indian trails. From the Ohio map below, we can clearly see the entrance and dispersion of each tribe in Ohio from 1750 to 1842.

Above Map - Shows diagrammatically the point of entrance and dispersion of each tribe. Map courtesy of chapter member, Bob Maffit

From 1650 to 1750 Ohio was a no-man’s land

1. The Mound Builders disappeared probably before the discovery of America by Columbus.
2. A nomadic people of which we have no historic record, but which presumably was Algonquian, succeeded the Mound Builders.
3. By 1650 the Eries had been exterminated by the “Six Nations” of New York. About 1750 pressure and persecution forced other tribes into Ohio from all sides. They naturally took up their abode along the rich river valleys.
4. The Shawnees occupied the valley of the Scioto River.
5. The Wyandots occupied the valley of the Sandusky River.
6. he Delawares occupied the valley of the Muskingham River.
7. The Miamis occupied the valley of the Miami River.
8. The Mingoes occupied detached settlements.
9. The Tuscarawas occupied the valley of the Tuscarawas River.
10. The Ottowas occupied the valleys of the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers.