From about 200 BC to AD 500, the Ohio River
Valley was a focal point of the prehistoric Hopewell culture. The term
Hopewell describes a broad network of beliefs and practices among
different Native American groups over a large portion of eastern North
America. The culture is characterized by the construction of enclosures
made of earthen walls, often built in geometric patterns, and mounds of
various shapes. Visible remnants of Hopewell culture are concentrated
in the Scioto River valley near present-day Chillicothe, Ohio. The most
striking Hopewell sites contain earthworks in the form of squares,
circles, and other geometric shapes. Many of these sites were built to
a monumental scale, with earthen walls up to 12 feet high outlining
geometric figures more than 1000 feet across. Conical and loaf-shaped
earthen mounds up to 30 feet high are often found in association with
the geometric earthworks.
The park contains nationally significant archeological resources
including large earthwork and mound complexes that provide an insight
into the social, ceremonial, political, and economic life of the
Hopewell people. The park visitor center features museum exhibits, an
orientation film, book sales area, and self-guided and guided tours.
for more information goto the National Park Service
*information from the National Park Service
