Examination and Distribution of Woodland Period Sites along the Twin Creek Drainage in Southwestern Ohio

Abstract

Over the past 160 years Woodland period earthworks and mounds along the main valleys of the Great and Little Miami rivers in southwestern Ohio have received considerable archaeological attention in contrast to those along the secondary tributaries of these drainages. This study examines Twin Creek, a secondary tributary of the Great Miami River, in an attempt to synthesize existing information on Woodland period archaeological sites located on this drainage. Of interest is whether earthworks and mounds form clusters at regularly spaced intervals from one another and/or at certain topographical situations. Major Woodland period sites identified by investigators in the nineteenth and early twentieth century are reexamined to see whether these sites still exist, and if so, how they have been impacted by historic disturbances over the past 200 years. In addition, the results of recent fieldwork and survey on Woodland period sites along Twin Creek are presented.