Ferris Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ferris Site
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Overview from the north along U.S. Route 52
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Along the Ohio River, 5 miles (8.0 km) below the William H. Zimmer Power Station |
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| Nearest city | New Richmond, Ohio |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001416 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1974 |
The Ferris Site is a special archaeological site located in the southwestern part of Ohio. An archaeological site is a place where people lived or did things in the past, and we can find clues about them there. This site is in Clermont County, right next to the Ohio River. It's about 5 miles (8 kilometers) downstream from the William H. Zimmer Power Station. The Ferris Site covers about 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of land, and it's near a small stream that sometimes dries up.
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Discovering the Past at Ferris Site
In 1970, University of Cincinnati archaeologists started digging at the Ferris Site. Archaeologists are like history detectives who study old human activity by digging up and analyzing artifacts. This digging process is called an excavation. During their work, they found many interesting things.
What Archaeologists Found
The archaeologists discovered a large number of stone tools. These tools were made by people long ago for different tasks. Some of the tools found include:
- Blanks: These are pieces of stone that were partly shaped, ready to be made into a finished tool.
- Blades: These are long, thin pieces of stone with sharp edges, often used for cutting.
- Knives: These were also sharp stone tools used for cutting, similar to the knives we use today.
Life in the Early Archaic Period
By studying all the artifacts (the objects left behind by ancient people) found at the Ferris Site, scientists learned that people lived there during the Early Archaic period. This period was a very long time ago, roughly between 8,000 and 6,000 BC. During this time, people in North America were often hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. The Ferris Site is important because it gives us a unique look into what life was like in southern Ohio during this ancient time.
A Special Place in History
Because of its importance for understanding the past, the Ferris Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The National Register is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. Being on this list helps protect the site and recognize its value. The Ferris Site is one of nine archaeological sites in Clermont County that are listed on the National Register.
