

Tweet

Double click any word for definition.

Ohio State Artifact

Adena Pipe Adopted:



Ohio State Artifact: Adena Pipe Ohio State Artifact: Adena Pipe

It was discovered in 1901 by William C. Mills, then curator of archaeology for the Ohio State Archaeology and Historical Society, within a burial mound in Chillicothe.

According to the Ohio Historical Society "the Adena Pipe is a tubular pipe carved from Ohio pipestone into an effigy of a Native American man wearing ear spools and a loincloth with a feather bustle attached to the back." [ 1 ]

The Adena people lived in the region between 800 B.C. and 100 A.D. Tubular tobacco pipes were common among these ancient Ohioans, but pipes depicting humans were rare. It?s likely the Adena Pipe belonged to a high-ranking man of his era.

(Beathard)

The effort to name the Adena pipe the official state artifact of Ohio was initiated by 4th-grade students at the Columbus School for Girls in 2009 but defeated in two legislative sessions.

House Bill No. 600, introduced to the 128th General Assembly (2009-2010), by Representative Nancy Garland on November 9, 2010, was referred to the House State and Local Government Committee. There it sat until the legislature adjourned at the end of the year. No action was taken.

The students were back again for the 129th General Assembly (2011-2012 session). House Bill No. 501, this time introduced by Representatives John Carney and Mike Duffy on April 4, 2012, was passed by the House of Representatives by unanimous vote (93-0) on November 28, 2012. Unfortunately, Senate President Tom Niehaus had bad news for the students. The bill was not considered in the State Senate.

"It will not be taken up before the end of this General Assembly, and the reason is there is just not enough time," said Angela Meleca, spokeswoman for Niehaus, a New Richmond Republican.

(Everhart)

There was nothing the students could do except to wait for the next session of the General Assembly. And that, they did.

The 130th General Assembly (2013-2014) paid off. Bills were introduced in the House and in the Senate. Senate Bill No. 33, introduced by State Senators Kevin Bacon and Frank LaRose on February 13, 2013 was passed in both the Senate (April 10, 2013) and the House (April 30, 2013).

The Adena pipe was adopted as the official state artifact of the State of Ohio, when Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill No. 33 on May 16, 2013. The law went into effect on August 15, 2013.

(130th General Assembly)

(Senate Bill Number 33) AN ACT To enact section 5.075 of the Revised Code to adopt the Adena Pipe as the official artifact of the state. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio: SECTION 1. That section 5.075 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: Sec. 5.075. The artifact known as the Adena pipe, which is a prehistoric effigy pipe that was discovered in 1901 by William C. Mills within a burial mound near Chillicothe and that was created by the ancient Adena culture from native Ohio pipestone, is adopted as the official state artifact.

Only two other states have adopted a state artifact.