Estimating the population of pre-contact Ohio is a journey through ancient history and archaeological discovery.
The Era of the Earthworks (1000 BCE – 1650 CE)
Centuries before the “Colonial Conquest,” Ohio was home to advanced societies known as the Adena and Hopewell cultures. These groups built massive geometric earthworks and effigy mounds (like the Great Serpent Mound) that suggest a large, organized population.
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- Population Density: Archaeologists believe the Ohio River Valley supported a significant population because of its incredibly fertile soil and abundant waterways.
- Estimates: During the Hopewell peak (around…