Ufferman Site
Encyclopedia
The Ufferman Site is an archaeological site
in the central part of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. Located north of the city of Delaware
, it occupies approximately 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of land near Delaware Lake
on property near to the boundaries of Delaware State Park
. It appears to have been the location of a village of the Cole culture
, which inhabited the region during the later portion of the Woodland period
.
Although archaeologists have never excavated the Ufferman Site, numerous artifacts
have been found because of the activities of local groundhog
s. These animals favor the loose soil of the esker
upon which the site lies, and their many diggings for their burrows have brought to the surface significant numbers of human and animal bones, pottery, and bits of stone.
In 1974, the Ufferman Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
because of its archaeological value. The primary importance of the site is its ability to yield information about the Cole culture, which has been little understood until recent years. Fifty-five other historic locations in Delaware County are listed on the National Register, including four other archaeological sites. The Ufferman Site was one of the first of these places to be recognized as a historic site
; only four other places — the Delaware County Courthouse
and a historic district
of three buildings on the Ohio Wesleyan University
campus in Delaware, the Spruce Run Earthworks
near the village of Galena
, and the Highbank Park Works
near the city of Worthington
— were listed on the Register before the Ufferman Site. Like the Ufferman Site, the Highbank Park Works are believed to have been built by peoples of the Cole culture.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
in the central part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Located north of the city of Delaware
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
, it occupies approximately 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of land near Delaware Lake
Delaware State Park
Delaware State Park is a Ohio state park in Delaware County, Ohio in the United States. The park, town and county are named for the Delaware nation , a Native American tribe that originally lived along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey...
on property near to the boundaries of Delaware State Park
Delaware State Park
Delaware State Park is a Ohio state park in Delaware County, Ohio in the United States. The park, town and county are named for the Delaware nation , a Native American tribe that originally lived along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey...
. It appears to have been the location of a village of the Cole culture
Cole culture
The Cole Culture is a Late Woodland Period culture of Native American people from central Ohio.Cole Culture people made flint tools and pottery. They were agrarian and cultivated beans, maize, squash, and tobacco. Cole people buried their dead in subterranean graves instead of mounds. They shared...
, which inhabited the region during the later portion of the Woodland period
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
.
Although archaeologists have never excavated the Ufferman Site, numerous artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
have been found because of the activities of local groundhog
Groundhog
The groundhog , also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but...
s. These animals favor the loose soil of the esker
Esker
An esker is a long winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America...
upon which the site lies, and their many diggings for their burrows have brought to the surface significant numbers of human and animal bones, pottery, and bits of stone.
In 1974, the Ufferman Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
because of its archaeological value. The primary importance of the site is its ability to yield information about the Cole culture, which has been little understood until recent years. Fifty-five other historic locations in Delaware County are listed on the National Register, including four other archaeological sites. The Ufferman Site was one of the first of these places to be recognized as a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
; only four other places — the Delaware County Courthouse
Delaware County Courthouse (Ohio)
The Delaware County Courthouse is located at 91 North Sandusky Street in Delaware, Ohio. The courthouse was placed on the National Register.-History:...
and a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
of three buildings on the Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
campus in Delaware, the Spruce Run Earthworks
Spruce Run Earthworks
The Spruce Run Earthworks is an archaeological site located in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio, in Delaware County. It is believed to have been built by the Adena culture....
near the village of Galena
Galena, Ohio
Galena is a village in Delaware County, Ohio, United States. The population was 653 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Galena is located at ....
, and the Highbank Park Works
Highbank Park Works
The Highbank Park Works is a complex of earthworks and a potential archaeological site located within Highbanks Metro Park in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The park is in southernmost Delaware County on the east bank of the Olentangy River...
near the city of Worthington
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
— were listed on the Register before the Ufferman Site. Like the Ufferman Site, the Highbank Park Works are believed to have been built by peoples of the Cole culture.