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SHERIDEN CAVE SITE
WYANDOT COUNTY, OHIO
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COPYRIGHT OCTOBER 31, 2001 PETER A. BOSTROM

ABSTRACT

    The Sheriden Cave site is located in north central Ohio in Wyandot County near a commercial cave called Indian Trail Caverns. The excavation of Sheriden Cave began in 1989 to clean out a sink hole to look for passages that might expand the commercial cave. Late Ice Age animal bones were soon discovered which initiated the first of two separate scientific excavations. Paleontologist Dr. MacDonald from the Cincinnati Museum worked there from 1990 to 1995 collecting Late Ice Age animal bones until evidence of early human occupation was discovered. Then from 1996 to 2000 the project was continued by Dr. Ken Tankersley &  archaeological students and volunteers from Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
   Many different extinct animal species were found. The rarest being a short-faced bear that would have weighed twice as much as a modern grizzly bear. A cervical vertebrae from a snapping turtle that shows evidence of butchering was also found. But some of the most important information gathered from this excavation was evidence of climate change that affected animal extinction. Also, two rare bone spear points were found. One of which is believed to have made the round hole in a scapula fragment that came from one of the two species of peccaries found in the cave.
   One complete fluted point and one large uniface side-scraper was found. Plus a small fragment from a biface that may be from another projectile point and a graver.  At least 29 carbon dates were taken from this site. The artifact bearing layer is estimated to date sometime between 11,000 to 10,500 years ago. The state of Ohio recently placed a state historical marker nearby to memorialize this important site.

BONE SPEAR POINTS FROM SHERIDEN CAVE--HENDRICKS COLLECTION
 A DEEP PALEO-INDIAN CAVE SITE IN OHIO
EARLY PALEO-INDIAN CAMP & FOOD PROCESSING SITE
WYANDOT COUNTY, OHIO

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE OF ARTIFACTS
STONE AND BONE ARTIFACTS FROM SHERIDEN CAVE
HENDRICKS COLLECTION

SHERIDEN CAVE
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO--WYANDOT COUNTY
PRIVATELY OWNED BY THE HENDRICKS FAMILY

TAKEN FROM PICTURE #54 IN THE CLOVIS SLIDE SET
CLEARING OUT THE SHERIDEN CAVE SINK HOLE
PICTURE CREDIT--KEN TANKERSLEY

  This picture was taken in 1989. It shows the beginning of an excavation project that would remove more than 15,720 cubic yards of sandy soil from a sink hole known today as Sheriden Cave or Sheriden Pit. Named for the original owner of the land.
   Eleven years ago Dick Hendricks decided to clean out a sink hole that was located near a commercial cave he owned and operated called Indian Trial Caverns. The sink hole was so close to the cave there was a possibility that cleaning it out might reveal more passageways that would expand the commercial cave. A crane with a bucket was rented and a huge amount of soil was eventually removed. This project began a scientific investigation that was destined to become nationally famous and reveal information about the areas earliest inhabitants 11,000 years ago.

TIME-LINE PERSPECTIVE
CLICK HERE FOR THE TIME-LINE-INDEX
THE SHERIDEN CAVE SITE DATES TO SOMETIME BETWEEN 11,000 AND 10,500 YEARS AGO

8,000 B.C.-----Human population on earth reaches an estimated 5 million and people are living to an average age of 20 to 30 years.

   This picture shows the ladder that accesses the site and descends to approximately 32 feet. The lowest part of the sink hole measures 50 feet deep.

LOOKING OUT FROM INSIDE THE CAVE
SHERIDEN CAVE SITE
PICTURE CREDIT--KEN TANKERSLEY

   This picture was taken from inside Sheriden Cave looking out into the sink hole area. The sink hole measures more than 65 feet across and 50 feet deep. A direct passage from Sheriden Cave to Indian Trail Caverns has not yet been made but it's believed the two are the same cave system.

BONE SPEAR POINT & NOTES JUST AFTER DISCOVERY
SHERIDEN CAVE SITE
PICTURE CREDIT KEITH HENDRICKS--HENDRICKS COLLECTION

   Sheriden Cave was first excavated by paleontologist H. Gregory McDonald from the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History after the bones of extinct Ice Age animals were discovered during the original earth removal process. Dr. MacDonald worked there excavating animal bones from the summer of 1990 to the summer of 1995. When a student from Michigan State University, Kenneth Ford, discovered one of the two rare Ice Age bone spear points so far recovered on this site. This discovery left no doubt that they were now excavating in an ancient Paleo-Indian habitation site and if the excavation was to proceed farther it should be done by archaeologist rather than paleontologist. 

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
LOOKING DOWN INTO SHERIDEN CAVE
PICTURE CREDIT--KEITH HENDRICKS

   In 1996 Dr. Kenneth B. Tankersley from Kent State University became involved after visiting the site and examining a bone spear point and a stone scraper from the previous excavation. It was then decided to excavate the remaining deposits inside the cave. A project that continued for four years until the summer of 2000. The project was accomplished by volunteers and students from Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION INSIDE SHERIDEN CAVE
PICTURE CREDIT--KEITH HENDRICKS

   This picture shows some of the archaeological technique used to excavate the many bones and limited number of artifacts. The area is divided with string into meter squares so all the items recovered can be recorded in the vertical and horizontal planes. Some of the standard tools used by archaeologist can be seen in this picture such as the flexible steel and straight rulers, collection bags and digging tools. The line level, located on the string in the center, is a tool that keeps everything level.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
CAVE EXCAVATION IS DIFFERENT
PICTURE CREDIT--KEITH HENDRICKS

   Most excavations occur in the open air and are not dependent on as much equipment as for example underwater and cave archaeology would use. As this picture shows, the one obvious item needed for excavating in a cave is plenty of lighting. Some areas of the excavation can also be very cramped for space.

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