In Ohio, the Middle Woodland period is synonymous with the Hopewell people, who are known for their massive earthworks, extensive long-distance trade networks, and well-developed artistic traditions. Their settlements were not villages but small hamlets, and earthwork centers played a key role in uniting dispersed communities by providing social, political, and religious centers. Hopewell earthworks fall into two groups: geometrically shaped earthwork complexes and irregularly shaped hilltop enclosures.