Zimmerman Kame facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Zimmerman Kame
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Western side of the kame
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off Township Road 39, Roundhead, Ohio, United States |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001523 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The Zimmerman Kame is a special kind of hill in Hardin County, Ohio, near a town called Roundhead. It's also known as the "Zimmerman Site." This hill is a glacial kame, which means it was formed by a glacier (a huge sheet of ice) long, long ago. It's also an archaeological site, which is a place where scientists study human history by digging up old objects.
This circular hill is about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. For a while, it was used as a gravel pit, where people dug up sand and gravel for building. But in the 1970s, they stopped digging because they found amazing things there! They discovered objects left behind by an ancient group of Native Americans called the Glacial Kame Culture. Today, the hill is covered in trees and surrounded by farm fields, so you wouldn't know just by looking how important it is.
What is the Zimmerman Kame?
The Zimmerman Kame is a unique hill created by glaciers. Imagine a giant ice cube slowly moving across the land. As it melts, it leaves behind piles of sand and gravel. That's how a kame is formed! This particular kame became a special spot for ancient people.
Discovering Ancient History
When people were digging for gravel at the Zimmerman Kame, they found many old items. These items are called artifacts, and they tell us about the people who lived there thousands of years ago. Finding these artifacts was very exciting because it showed that the hill was once an important place for the Glacial Kame Culture.
The Glacial Kame Culture
The Glacial Kame Culture was a group of Native Americans who lived in parts of North America a very long time ago, around 4,000 to 2,500 years ago. They are known for burying their dead in or on top of kames, like the Zimmerman Kame. These burials often included special objects.
What Did They Find?
Scientists found small pieces of pottery at the Zimmerman Site. This was a big discovery! Before this, experts didn't know that the Glacial Kame people made pottery. This finding helped us learn more about their daily lives and skills. It showed that they were more advanced than previously thought.
Why is the Zimmerman Kame Important?
The Zimmerman Kame is one of many archaeological sites in Hardin County, Ohio. Early surveys in the 1900s found many ancient sites in the area. Many of these sites, like the Zimmerman Kame, were burial places located on top of hills.
In 1974, the Zimmerman Kame was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history. The site was listed because it could teach us even more about the Glacial Kame Culture. It was the very first kame to be recognized on this important list! Protecting sites like the Zimmerman Kame helps us understand the past and learn about the people who lived on this land long before us.
