The Hocking River stretches 95 miles south eastward from Columbus to the Ohio River, draining an area of 1,200 square miles. In this detailed study of the archeological investigations in the Hocking Valley, James L. Murphy summarizes and re-evaluates explorations in the light of current knowledge. He discusses the prehistory of the Hocking Valley for six major time periods: Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland, Late Woodland, and Late Prehistoric.

Never before available in paperback, this new edition also reveals Murphy’s original findings during 15 years of archeological surveys and excavations. This book includes detailed reports on the excavation of three Adena mounds, two Fort Ancient village sites, and several multi-component rock shelters.

A deliberate effort to present archeological finds of interest to both the professional archeologist and the layman in terms understandable to both has been coupled with an attempt to distinguish clearly between the presentation of facts and the presentation of opinion. The book is enhanced by illustrations of much of the artifact material analyzed in the text, site diagrams, and a map locating all major known archeological sites in the Hocking Valley, and an appendix locating and describing all sites discussed in the text.

Native American societies, often viewed as unchanging, in fact experienced a rich process of cultural innovation in the millennia prior to recorded history. Societies of the Hocking River Valley in southeastern Ohio, part of the Ohio River Valley, created a tribal organization beginning about 2000 bc.

Edited by Elliot M. Abrams and AnnCorinne Freter, The Emergence of the Moundbuilders: The Archaeology of Tribal Societies in Southeastern Ohio presents the process of tribal formation and change in the region based on analyses of all available archaeological data from the Hocking River Valley. Drawing on the work of scholars in archaeology, anthropology, geography, geology, and botany, the collection addresses tribal society formation through such topics as the first pottery made in the valley, aggregate feasting by nomadic groups, the social context for burying their dead in earthen mounds, the formation of religious ceremonial centers, and the earliest adoption of corn.

Providing the most current research on indigenous societies in the Hocking Valley, The Emergence of the Moundbuilders is distinguished by its broad, comparative overview of tribal life.