Madisonville site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Madisonville site
Mariemont Embankment and Village Site |
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Overview of the site
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southern side of Mariemont, above the Little Miami River |
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| Nearest city | Mariemont, Ohio |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001517 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 1974 |
The Madisonville site is an ancient village location near Mariemont, Ohio, United States. It's a special place where archaeologists study how people lived long ago. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1974. It is also known as the "Mariemont Embankment and Village Site."
Contents
Discovering the Madisonville Site
The Madisonville site is very important for understanding the Fort Ancient culture. This culture made a specific type of pottery, and Madisonville is the main example for it. The site covers about 5 acres. It sits on a high area above the Little Miami River. This spot is about 5 miles upstream from the Ohio River.
When People Lived Here
People lived at the Madisonville site for hundreds of years. Most people lived there in the late 1500s and early 1600s. This makes it the most studied Fort Ancient site from that time.
How We Learned About It
Early digs happened in the 1900s. Staff from the Peabody Museum at Harvard University did this work. Since 1990, the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History has done more studies. They use modern tools and methods. These new studies have helped us learn even more.
Village Layout
Researchers found that the village had two or more small open areas, called plazas. This is different from older villages like SunWatch Indian Village, which had just one central plaza.
What People Ate and Traded
The people at Madisonville were unique. They were the only Fort Ancient group known to eat bison. They likely hunted these large animals west of their village. They also hunted elk and deer for meat. These animals were important for more than just food. People used their bones, tendons, and hides. They made tools, musical instruments, clothes, and decorations.
Ancient Trade Networks
Archaeologists found many items at Madisonville that were not from the local area. This shows that the villagers were part of a large trade network. They exchanged goods with people far away.
Where Goods Came From
Some items came from the St. Lawrence River area. This is near the New York and Canadian border. Other goods came from eastern Iowa and northern Alabama. Some items also came from Tennessee.
European Goods and Ornaments
The site also had a few European items. This suggests they got these goods through other groups, not directly. The people at Madisonville made special snake-shaped ornaments. These unique items have been found in other places. For example, they were found at Iroquois villages in Ontario, Canada, and western New York.
