Hopeton Earthworks

 
HOPETON CMS
Hopeton Earthworks as drawn by Squier & Davis, c.1864

Introduction

Two thousand years ago, American Indians of the Hopewell culture gathered in the Scioto River and Paint Creek valleys to build enormous geometic earthworks. For the next half millennia, the Hopewell culture flourished in the area creating spectacular earthen architecture and finely crafted objects. The Hopeton Earthworks complex includes a 7.3 hectare circle, a 7.86 hectare square, at least two small circles and parallel walls.

The architecture of the Hopeton Earthworks is dominated by two immense geometric enclosures--a large, irregular square with rounded corners and a slight outward curvature in its northeastern face, and a more nearly perfect circle slightly overlapping it. These two figures have nearly equal areas, and together encompass 15.16 hectares (37.5 acres). Smaller circular structures also join the square at various points, and linear parallel earthworks extend westward toward the river for about 730 meters from the northwest corner of the square.

Quicklinks for information and maps on visiting the site today.

Ceremonial Gatherings

The Hopeton Earthworks complex was constructed on a grand scale. The walls of the square were 3.7 meters high and 15.2 meters wide. The Great Circle’s diameter was 320 meters, with walls 1.5 meters high. The parallel walls ran for at least 730 meters and were 45.7 meters apart from each other.

The construction of the earthworks was purposeful. For instance, the parallel walls were constructed to align with the sunset on the winter solstice. In addition, the American Indians that built the walls of the enclosure carefully selected the type of soil they used. Red clay soil was used on the exterior of the walls and yellow clay soil was used on the interior walls. Even more remarkable, the Great Circle’s diameter of 320 meters was repeated at four other earthworks sites: Circleville, High Bank, Newark, and Seal.

 
An old black and white drawing of an earthworks complex with people looking around

Squier and Davis 1848

 

Grand & Purposeful Construction

Hopeton Earthworks was one of the first places in North America where the principles of scientific archeology were applied, and National Park Service archeologists continue this research today. A carefully measured map was first published in 1809. In 2012, archeologist used laser technology (LiDAR) to produce an elevation map of the earthwork surface accurate to +/-3 inches. Archeologist recently used global positioning systems (GPS) to map the precise location of almost 14,000 individual artifacts. This mapping effort also provided distribution information showing Hopewell artifacts widely scattered outside the earthworks, with very few inside the enclosures. This is further evidence that these spaces were set aside for sacred purposes. Most recently, an international team used state-of-the-art magnetic survey methods to detect buried archeological features across the entire Hopeton landscape. One remarkable discovery was that a row of monumental wooden posts spaced at 6 meter intervals once marked the outline of the Great Circle, forming a gigantic “Woodhenge.”

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Slow Demise

Unfortunately, this fabulous earthwork complex fell victim to the same fate that claimed nearly all of the many renowned earthwork complexes of southern Ohio. Two centuries of plowing gradually leveled the sloping earthen embankment walls leaving them barely visible today. The famous team of pioneering archeologists Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis surveyed and mapped this site in 1846. Even then they noted that the Great Circle “ has been much reduced of late years by the plough.” With the advent of mechanized agriculture in the 20th century, the rate of erosion increased rapidly.

This site was also threatened by the gravel quarry that can be seen to the west. Fortunately, Congress authorized the National Park Service to acquire the Hopeton site in 1980 and provided funds for its purchase in 1988.

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A large green, grassy field under a partly cloudy blue sky
A panoramic view of the interpretive mowing to show earthworks placement at Hopeton Earthworks.

NPS Photos / Tom Engberg

 

Respecting a Shared National Heritage

Archeological Resources are nonrenewable and irreplaceable. In the 19th and 20th centuries, archeological sites suffered greatly from looting and damaging excavation methods. It was also common practice to excavate burial sites and place artifacts and human remains on display, with little regard for American Indian beliefs. Over time, archeological methods and respect for indigenous cultures have evolved, moving towards a greater emphasis on preservation and cultural understanding.

Today, archeological investigations are conducted in consultation with Indian tribes and focus on non-burial areas in an effort to gain a more complete understanding of the Hopewell culture. Laws now protect archeological sites from unauthorized ground disturbances or artifact collecting on public properties, such as park lands. As a unit of the National Park Service, Hopeton Earthworks has been placed in the public trust so that this generation and future generations can appreciate this priceless national treasure.

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Visiting the Site

Hopeton Earthworks was officially reopened to the public on August 25th, 2016. It is now accessible for visitors during daylight hours. There are no restroom facilities at the site. From the parking lot, Hopeton Earthworks has a 1.1 mile trail (round trip) that leads to an overlook area for viewing the earthwork remnants. See trail map below for layout of trail and parking lot access. The parking area at the trailhead is located on Hopetown road, about 1/3 mile west of North Bridge Street (S.R. 159). Scroll down this page for a detailed driving map to get to Hopeton Earthworks.

Important Note: Launching, landing and operation of any type of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV / drones) is not permitted within National Park Service boundaries at any time. It is not restricted to just park operating hours. This is a 24/7 regulation, every day of the year. All sites and areas of Hopewell Culture National HIstorical Park (even parking lots) are included. Please report violations to a ranger or by calling us or emailing us. Read more about Unmanned Aircraft in the National Parks.

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Site Map & Trail Map

 
An aerial map showing park grounds and surrounding area

NPS / Tom Engberg

 

Earthwork outline in map: United States of America (2022). “Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio, United States of America. Nomination to the World Heritage List by the United States of America." Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks - Documents - UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

 

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Area Road Map

 
Aerial view of local area showing park boundary

NPS / Tom Engberg

 

Last updated: July 10, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

16062 State Route 104
Chillicothe, OH 45601

Phone:

740 774-1125

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