Archaeology Collections

The Archaeology Department collections contain more than 750,000 artifacts from over 2,500 sites, most from the Ohio region.

These materials range from individual items donated by private individuals to assemblages recovered from excavations by Museum staff and other professionals.

Most of the specimens are from Ohio. These include a recently acquired major collection of material from northwest Ohio. The remainder is from adjacent states.

All of the Museum’s archaeological collections are accessible for legitimate research and study by qualified investigators.

Those interested in using the collections should contact Brian Redmond at (216) 231-4600, ext. 3301, or bredmond@cmnh.org.

Collections Highlights

• The Sheriden Cave Site faunal assemblage: More than 60 species of modern and extinct Late Pleistocene (Ice Age) animals associated with ancient human habitation

• The Hartley Mastodon: A small adult female mastodon found preserved in a bog near Salem in Columbiana County, Ohio, and radiocarbon dated to 10,900 years ago (curated in the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology)

• The Ringler Dugout: A Late Prehistoric watercraft carved from a 22-foot-long white oak log, discovered in Savannah Lake, Ashland County, Ohio.