Fort Ancient Indian Village

SunWatch Indian Village, Ohio

Where ever I travel, I always try to find unique locations or historical sites to visit in order to help broaden my knowledge. Years ago, I happened to be in Ohio visiting a veteran friend and stumbled upon Fort Ancient Indian Village near Dayton, Ohio.  You see I’ve always been fascinated by an archeological discovery and have always wanted to visit one, well I got my wish when I stumbled upon SunWatch Indian Village outside of Dayton, Ohio.

Not only is the Village laid out as what it would have looked like back between 1400 and 1700, but researchers have discovered multiple pieces of pottery, and what would have been mounds and outlines of small cabin like structures. The cabin like structures proved that the inhabitants have the know how to build living quarters using wood, clay and plaster like materials. Interesting to learn that the ability to build such dwellings with no modern tools or construction engineering education. Not only did they know how to build dwellings, they also knew how to create pottery and the pieces the archeologists found were quite intricate and beautiful. Another fascinating piece of knowledge was their knowledge about how to tell time both in hours and in seasons. In the center of the village stood a tall pole that when the sun was up, it appeared to be what we now call a sun dial. This was very interesting as it was also discovered in other Fort Ancient sites throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Indiana.

Like any community, the SunWatch Indian Village had it’s own social hierarchy.  The village apparently sustained approximately 50-100 citizens who planted, harvested, made pottery, tended the land and crops, cured meats, collected medicinal herbs and helped organize and maintain the village. The villagers help each other by sharing what they had by way of food and knowledge about hunting. 

Unfortunately, with the introduction of European settlers who brought with them foreign diseases that eventually killed off the inhabitants of SunWarch Indian Village and many other Indian villages throughout the New World.

 

Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, journalist. business professional, and creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Masters in Criminology and a BS in Business Management who stepped out of the loop for a while, but who is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.