United States

Sheriden Cave

Paleo-Indian cave site, Late Pleistocene Ohio

Location

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Historical Context

About

Sheriden Cave is a Paleo-Indian archaeological site from the late Ice age in Wyandot County, Ohio. Glacial deposits sealed off the cave more than 10,000 years ago. Sheriden Cave is a karst sinkhole on a dolomite ridge that crosses Hancock and Wyandot Counties. It is associated with the Indian Trail Caverns that opened in 1927. Sheriden Cave was discovered in 1989. The cave is unique because in addition to stone tools, there were also bone tools, remains of extinct animals, and organic matter found in the cave. Radiocarbon dating of artifacts indicate that they were used 11,000 and 12,000 years ago.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Cave discovered

1989

Entrance exposed

1995

Major excavations

c. 1997

Estimated occupation

c. 11,500 years ago

Sealed by glacial deposits

more than 10,000 years ago

Radiocarbon dates for artifacts

c. 11,000–12,000 years ago

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Caves
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Rock SheltersModified CavesSoil Layers
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United States

Coordinates

40.98° N, -83.44° E