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Image Credit: Eren et al., Journal of Archaeological Science (2026)
Stone Tool Cache in Ohio May Belong to the Early Woodland Adena Culture
A new archaeological study has examined a cache of 11 finely made stone bifaces discovered by accident during development work at a former golf course in Sugarcreek, Ohio. The find, known as the Joshua Cache, was first noticed in 2021 near a pond, after the area had been stripped and graded for construction. Because the site was already disturbed, archaeologists carried out a rapid salvage investigation and recovered two additional bifaces from the same area.
The cache consists of lanceolate stone bifaces that were carefully shaped with fine pressure flaking. Most of the pieces are leaf-shaped, with straight edges and flake scars meeting near the central axis. The researchers describe the artifacts as showing a high level of technical skill, although the circumstances of discovery mean that some interpretations must remain cautious.
Radiocarbon dating was carried out on small charcoal samples found near and below the bifaces. These samples produced dates from the mid-12th to mid-13th centuries AD. However, the study stresses that the relationship between the charcoal and the stone tools is uncertain, especially because the area had been disturbed and no clear pit or container was identified.
Despite the later charcoal dates, the bifaces closely resemble examples from caches associated with the Early Woodland Adena culture, dating broadly to about 2500–1900 years before present. Geometric morphometric analysis compared the Joshua Cache with other North American biface caches from different periods. The results support a possible Early Woodland affiliation, although the authors present this conclusion as provisional.
The study also used portable X-ray fluorescence to examine the stone material. The results suggest that the bifaces were most likely made from Upper Mercer chert, a high-quality raw material that outcrops roughly 43–45 km south of the discovery location. This indicates that the stone or the finished tools were transported some distance before being deposited.
Microwear analysis suggests that the bifaces had been transported but were not used as tools. This supports the interpretation that the cache may have served a purpose other than everyday practical use, although the study does not speculate beyond the available evidence.
Overall, the Joshua Cache adds an important case to the study of stone tool caches in eastern North America. It also raises questions about how archaeologists identify cultural affiliation, how similar tool forms may appear in different periods, and how much can be understood from finds recovered under disturbed conditions.
Published on: 06-06-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
