Maple Creek phase facts for kids

The Maple Creek phase describes a time when ancient people lived along the Ohio River. Their homes were mainly found in what is now Ohio and Kentucky, especially near modern Cincinnati. Archaeologists study the tools and camps these people left behind. This helps us understand how they lived about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago.

What Was the Maple Creek Phase?

The Maple Creek phase is a period that archaeologists study. It helps them understand a specific group of people from the past. These people lived during the Late Archaic period. This period ended just before the Early Woodland period began.

Tools and Clues They Left Behind

The people of the Maple Creek phase made special kinds of tools. These tools help archaeologists identify their sites. Some of their unique tools include:

• McWhinney Heavy Stemmed points: These were stone spear points or knife blades. They had a distinct shape.
• Meron-Trimble points: Another type of stone point, also used for hunting or cutting.
• Tiny stone tools: They also made very small tools by chipping stone. These were used for detailed tasks.

Besides tools, archaeologists found other clues about their lives:

• Earth ovens: These were underground pits used for cooking food. They would heat stones in the pit, then cook food slowly.
• Large river camps: The people often set up their main camps near big rivers. These camps were likely used for long periods.

Where Did They Live?

Many Maple Creek phase sites are found right along the Ohio River. These river areas were important for food and travel.

Important River Sites

Two key sites show where these people lived:

• Maple Creek site: This site is in Clermont County, Ohio, where a smaller stream called Maple Creek meets the Ohio River.
• Mexico Bottoms: This site is located in the Ohio River Bottoms area of Indiana.

Both the Maple Creek and Mexico Bottoms sites were large main camps. People likely stayed there during the summer and fall months.

Sites Further East

Archaeologists have also found similar sites further east along the Ohio River.

• Mabel Hall site: This site is in Lawrence County, Ohio. It shows connections to the Maple Creek phase. People lived here during the Late Archaic and Early Woodland periods. Some stone points found here are like the McWhinney Heavy Stemmed points.
• Davisson Farm site: Also in Lawrence County, this site has evidence of Maple Creek people. It also shows signs of another group called the Laurentian Archaic.

Life in the Hills

Not all Maple Creek phase sites were right by the big rivers. Some people lived in the hills, away from the main river valleys. It's harder to find clues about these groups. This is because they might have used different tools or lived in different ways.

Upland Sites

Some known Maple Creek culture sites in the hills include:

• Houpt site
• Glacken site
• Oberschlake #1 site

These sites help archaeologists understand that the Maple Creek people lived in different environments. They adapted to both river valleys and hill country.