Why Here?

The Hopewell chose this spot for an important ceremonial site on a large level terrace with good soil conditions that made it an optimal stage for a grand earthwork. The North Fork of Paint Creek would have been a major source of water and a corridor for travel, and nearby sulphur springs may have been used for medicinal or other purposes, or the area may have held special religious significance. The real reason is known only by the ancient architects. The Hopewell were remarkable engineers who built walls defining the size of the earthworks, with some walls as tall as 12 feet. Here, the walls measured 4-6 feet in height and enclosed an area of 100 football fields, and remnants of the original wall still remain further up the trail.

Ohio · United States