The State Artifact of Ohio

The Adena Pipe. Recovered from the Adena Mound in Ross County, Ohio by William C. Mills in 1901.

The Adena Pipe is one of Ohio's most famous artifacts- a human effigy that connects us with Ohio's past and bridges the gulf between ancient American Indians cultures and the present day. It was discovered on the estate of Thomas Worthington, Ohio's sixth governor who is often referred to as the "Father of Statehood," and has become a hallmark of the Adena culture.



Students from the Columbus School for Girls partnered with Ohio legislators to honor the Adena Pipe by officially naming it the State Artifact of Ohio. What began as a classroom learning exercise turned into Ohio House Bill 501 (HB501), which received bipartisan sponsorship, made its way through the legislature, and is now a law.



Governor John Kasich signing Ohio House Bill 501 with the students from the Columbus School for Girls. May 16, 2013.

Learn more about the Adena Pipe in this article from TIMELINE, on Ohio History Central, and this research article radiocarbon dating the Adena Mound.

