Newark Earthworks
Encyclopedia
The Newark Earthworks in Newark
and Heath, Ohio
, consists of three sections of preserved earthworks
: the Great Circle Earthworks, the Octagon Earthworks, and the Wright Earthworks. This complex contained the largest earthen enclosures in the world, being about 3,000 acres in extent. Today, the site itself covers 206 acres. The site is preserved as a state park by the Ohio Historical Society
. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark
. In 2006, Newark Earthworks was also designated as the "official prehistoric monument of the State of Ohio." http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2753
In addition, this is part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, one of 14 sites nominated in January 2008 by the Department of Interior for potential submission by the United States to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
between 100 BC
and AD 500
, the earthworks were used as places of ceremony, social gathering, trade, and worship. The Newark Earthwork site is the largest surviving Hopewell earthwork complex. The culture built many earthen mounds. Over many years, they built the single largest earthwork
enclosure complex in the Ohio River Valley. The earthworks cover several square miles. Scholars have demonstrated that the Octagon Earthworks comprise a lunar observatory
for tracking the moon's orbit during its 18.6-year cycle.
The 1180 feet (359.7 m) wide Newark Great Circle is the largest circular earthwork in the Americas
, at least in construction effort. The 8 feet (2.4 m) high walls surround a 5 feet (1.5 m) deep moat, except at the entrance where the dimensions are even greater and more impressive. Researchers have used archaeogeodesy
and archaeoastronomy
to analyze the placements, alignments, dimensions, and site-to-site interrelationships of the earthworks. This research has revealed that the prehistoric
culture
s in the area had advanced scientific understanding as the basis of their complex construction.
Today, the Great Circle Earthworks are preserved in a public park in Heath
.
in Richmond, Indiana
concluded that the complex was a lunar observatory, designed to track motions of the moon, including the northernmost point of the 18.6-year cycle of the lunar orbit. The moon then rises within one-half of a degree of the octagon's exact center. The earthwork is twice as precise as the complex at Stonehenge
(assuming Stonehenge is an observatory, which is a disputed theory).
From 1892 to 1908, the state of Ohio
used the Octagon Earthworks as a militia
encampment
. Immediately after this, the Newark Board of Trade owned the property, until 1918. In 1910, they leased the property to Mound Builders Country Club (MBCC), which developed the site as a golf course. As a result of a Licking County
Common Pleas Court case, a trustee was named to manage the property from 1918 to 1933.
In 1997 the Ohio Historical Society signed a lease until 2078 with the country club. MBCC maintains, secures, and provides some public access to the land. Some citizens believe the country club is an inappropriate use of the sacred site. There has been increasing public interest in the earthworks. Activists have pressed for more public access to the site to witness the moonrise, whose observance was planned in the construction by the original native builders.
Observatory Mound, Observatory Circle, and the interconnected Octagon span nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m) in length.
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
and Heath, Ohio
Heath, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,527 people, 3,403 households, and 2,375 families residing in the city. The population density was 816.6 people per square mile . There were 3,593 housing units at an average density of 344.1 per square mile...
, consists of three sections of preserved earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
: the Great Circle Earthworks, the Octagon Earthworks, and the Wright Earthworks. This complex contained the largest earthen enclosures in the world, being about 3,000 acres in extent. Today, the site itself covers 206 acres. The site is preserved as a state park by the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. In 2006, Newark Earthworks was also designated as the "official prehistoric monument of the State of Ohio." http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2753
In addition, this is part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, one of 14 sites nominated in January 2008 by the Department of Interior for potential submission by the United States to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
History
Built by the Hopewell cultureHopewell culture
The Hopewell tradition is the term used to describe common aspects of the Native American culture that flourished along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern United States from 200 BCE to 500 CE. The Hopewell tradition was not a single culture or society, but a widely dispersed set of related...
between 100 BC
100 BC
Year 100 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Flaccus...
and AD 500
500
Year 500 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Patricius and Hypatius...
, the earthworks were used as places of ceremony, social gathering, trade, and worship. The Newark Earthwork site is the largest surviving Hopewell earthwork complex. The culture built many earthen mounds. Over many years, they built the single largest earthwork
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
enclosure complex in the Ohio River Valley. The earthworks cover several square miles. Scholars have demonstrated that the Octagon Earthworks comprise a lunar observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
for tracking the moon's orbit during its 18.6-year cycle.
Great Circle Earthworks
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, at least in construction effort. The 8 feet (2.4 m) high walls surround a 5 feet (1.5 m) deep moat, except at the entrance where the dimensions are even greater and more impressive. Researchers have used archaeogeodesy
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
and archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures." Clive Ruggles argues it is misleading to consider archaeoastronomy to be the study of ancient astronomy, as modern...
to analyze the placements, alignments, dimensions, and site-to-site interrelationships of the earthworks. This research has revealed that the prehistoric
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
s in the area had advanced scientific understanding as the basis of their complex construction.
Today, the Great Circle Earthworks are preserved in a public park in Heath
Heath, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,527 people, 3,403 households, and 2,375 families residing in the city. The population density was 816.6 people per square mile . There were 3,593 housing units at an average density of 344.1 per square mile...
.
Octagon Earthworks
In 1982 researchers from Earlham CollegeEarlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
concluded that the complex was a lunar observatory, designed to track motions of the moon, including the northernmost point of the 18.6-year cycle of the lunar orbit. The moon then rises within one-half of a degree of the octagon's exact center. The earthwork is twice as precise as the complex at Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
(assuming Stonehenge is an observatory, which is a disputed theory).
From 1892 to 1908, the state of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
used the Octagon Earthworks as a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
encampment
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
. Immediately after this, the Newark Board of Trade owned the property, until 1918. In 1910, they leased the property to Mound Builders Country Club (MBCC), which developed the site as a golf course. As a result of a Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
Common Pleas Court case, a trustee was named to manage the property from 1918 to 1933.
In 1997 the Ohio Historical Society signed a lease until 2078 with the country club. MBCC maintains, secures, and provides some public access to the land. Some citizens believe the country club is an inappropriate use of the sacred site. There has been increasing public interest in the earthworks. Activists have pressed for more public access to the site to witness the moonrise, whose observance was planned in the construction by the original native builders.
Observatory Mound, Observatory Circle, and the interconnected Octagon span nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m) in length.
Wright Earthworks
Part of Newark Earthworks State Memorial, the Wright Earthworks consist of a fragment of a geometrically near-perfect square enclosure and part of one wall that originally formed a set of parallel embankments, which led from the square to a large oval enclosure.Originally, the sides of the Newark square ranged from about 940 to 950 feet in length, and they enclosed a total area of about 20 acres. Farming and construction associated with building the Ohio Canal and the streets and houses of the city of Newark destroyed much of the square enclosure and its associated mounds. The remaining segment of one wall of the square is less than two hundred feet long.Nomenclature
The Wright Earthworks are named in honor of Mrs. Frances Rees Wright who donated the site to the Ohio Historical Society in 1934.See also
- Hopewell Culture National Historical ParkHopewell Culture National Historical ParkHopewell Culture National Historical Park, formerly known as Mound City Group National Monument, is a United States national historical park with earthworks and burial mounds from the Hopewell culture, indigenous peoples who flourished from about 200 BC to AD 500. The park is composed of five...
- Fort AncientFort AncientFort Ancient is a name for a Native American culture that flourished from 1000-1750 CE among a people who predominantly inhabited land along the Ohio River in areas of modern-day Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana and Western West Virginia. They were a maize based agricultural...
- List of Hopewell sites
- Earthwork (archaeology)
- Mound builder (people)