Hobson site facts for kids
 Location in Ohio
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| Location | Middleport, Ohio, Meigs County, Ohio,  USA |
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| Region | Meigs County, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 38°58′59.74″N 82°4′45.44″W / 38.9832611°N 82.0792889°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 1300 CE |
| Abandoned | 1400 CE |
| Periods | Feurt Phase |
| Cultures | Fort Ancient culture |
The Hobson site (also known as 33MS2) is an important Native American archaeological site. It is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Middleport, Ohio. You can find it on the north bank of the Ohio River.
This site shows small signs of older groups, like those from the Archaic and Woodland times. But the most important part of the site is a small village and burial ground. This village belonged to the Feurt Phase of the Fort Ancient culture. Scientists first thought it was from 1100 to 1200 CE. Newer tests using radiocarbon dating show it was likely settled around 1350 CE.
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What We Found at Hobson Site
Archaeologists study old objects to learn about people who lived long ago. At the Hobson site, they found many interesting things. These items help us understand the daily lives of the Fort Ancient people.
Pottery Discoveries
One of the main things found at the Hobson site was pottery. Early pottery found here looks very similar to other types. These include Watson Ware from the upper Ohio Valley and Peters Cordmarked Ware from the Scioto and Hocking River areas.
Most of the pottery pieces found were smooth and made with shell. This means tiny pieces of shell were mixed into the clay. This made the pottery stronger. This type of pottery is very similar to other Fort Ancient sites in the Hocking Valley.
Archaeologists found 791 plain pieces of pottery made with shell. They also found ten pottery fragments with thick strap handles. Two pieces had lug handles, which are small, ear-shaped handles. Some pottery had decorations like dots and lines. These decorated pieces are very much like pottery from the Feurt Phase in the Scioto and Hocking valleys.
Tools and Other Objects
Besides pottery, many other tools and objects were found. These were typical of the Feurt Phase of the Fort Ancient culture. They included items made from flint, a hard stone, and hematite, a type of iron ore. Tools made from animal bone and shell were also common.
Most of the flint arrowheads found at Hobson were long and shaped like triangles. They often had straight or curved sides and rounded bases. These arrowheads were important for hunting.
How They Used Materials
The Fort Ancient people were very skilled at using natural materials around them. They used freshwater shells, animal bones, and other resources for many purposes.
Shell and Bone Tools
Just like other Fort Ancient groups, the people at Hobson used local freshwater shells. They made tools and jewelry from these shells. For example, they shaped animal bones and shells into hoes for gardening.
Animal bones were also used to make many different tools. These included sharp tools called awls, which were used for piercing. They also made punches, fish hooks, and needles for sewing. Scrapers made from bone helped prepare animal hides.
Personal Items
The Fort Ancient people also made personal items from animal bones. These included beads for necklaces or clothing. They also created hair pins, pendants, and tinklers. Tinklers were small objects that made a soft sound when they moved.
Animals They Hunted
The main animals hunted by the people at Hobson were deer and turkey. But they also hunted other animals. These included raccoons, elk, fish, and turtles. These animals provided food and materials for tools and clothing.
A Glimpse into Burials
Sadly, most of the human burials at the Hobson site were disturbed before archaeologists could study them. This happened because of construction and farming in the area.
Only one human burial was found and studied by archaeologists. This person was a male, estimated to be about 22 or 23 years old. His body was found in a semi-flexed position, meaning his knees were bent. However, parts of his knees were missing due to farming in later times.
This person had a condition where some of the bones in his neck and upper back were fused together. Archaeologists also found arrow points near two bones in his lower back.
