Discover the Awe-Inspiring Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are a collection of eight monumental earthen enclosures built by the Indigenous Hopewell culture between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago in what is now southern Ohio. These sites, which include the Great Circle Earthworks, Octagon Earthworks, Fort Ancient, Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Seip Earthworks, High Bank Earthworks, and Hopeton Earthworks, represent the most significant surviving expressions of the Hopewell tradition. The earthworks are notable for their large geometric shapes—squares, circles, and octagons—covering several acres and executed with remarkable precision and scale.

The Hopewell people constructed these earthworks as ceremonial centers, gathering periodically for rituals and social connection. The structures were not defensive but served as places for ceremony and burial, often aligned with key astronomical events such as the risings and settings of the sun and moon. The geometric precision and astronomical alignments reflect a sophisticated understanding of geometry and celestial cycles, indicating advanced intellectual and technical achievements by the Hopewell culture.

Archaeological evidence shows that the Hopewell culture was supported by a mix of foraging and early agriculture, and the earthworks were built by dispersed, non-hierarchical groups rather than centralized societies. The sites have yielded finely crafted ritual objects made from exotic materials like obsidian, copper, and shells, which were obtained through extensive trade networks stretching across North America48. This demonstrates the Hopewell’s wide sphere of influence and their role as a center of prehistoric exchange and cultural interaction.

In recognition of their outstanding universal value, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, becoming Ohio’s first such designation and the 25th in the United States135. Today, these earthworks are managed by the National Park Service and Ohio History Connection, offering insight into the achievements of ancient Indigenous peoples and serving as a testament to their creativity, knowledge, and cultural legacy.