Caleb Atwater

Born in December 1778 and dying on March 13, 1867, Caleb Atwater was an American writer and public figure whose work centered on Ohio in its early years. He served as a politician in the state and was also appointed postmaster of Circleville, Ohio.

Atwater is especially remembered as one of the earliest writers to study and describe the ancient earthworks of the Ohio Valley. His interest in archaeology and history led him to publish works that helped introduce many readers to the region’s mounds, settlements, and early communities.

Alongside his archaeological writing, he also wrote about Ohio’s broader past, earning a place among the state’s early historians. Today, he is mainly remembered for preserving an early record of Ohio history and for helping spark wider curiosity about the ancient sites of the American Midwest.