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The Mound City Group Earthworks of the
Hopewell Tradition
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In prehistoric times
in the broad expanse of land between the Ohio River and the Mississippi
River an ancient and powerful culture flourished.
This was a culture of builders, artisans, and warriors. This was a
society that left a nearly indelible imprint on the land through there
massive and enigmatic earthworks.
This civilization thrived in the same historical time period as the
Mayans and Aztecs.
This mysterious culture built elaborate dwellings and lived in large,
well defended villages and they built even more extensive and elaborate
ceremonial complexes. Archeological evidence suggests that they
lived under a sophisticated hierarchical social structure of rulers,
priests or shamans, soldiers, and citizens.
This civilization also maintained extensive trade routes, trading goods
and raw materials with people as far away as the Pacific Northwest and
down the Mississippi river system to what is now the Gulf of Mexico.
The earthworks preserved here at the Mound City Group were not the
elements of cities. This was a place of high ceremony, including the
sacred rituals related to the burial of the dead.
A low burial
mound at the perimeter
of the necropolis complex. |
The academics investigating
these sites in the early 1890's knew nothing of who these
mysterious people were. Even native Americans living
at the time knew little of the ancient ones.
However, since the first scientific studies began on a farm
owned by a man named Hopewell, the mysterious culture was
simply named the Hopewell.
To many people living in the United States today, the story,
or even the existence of the Hopewell culture may seem
strange indeed. |
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After all, we are told so
frequently that the Americas are "The New World" and as such
has no ancient cultures to speak of, that we begin to
believe it. Quite frankly, this is a period of time in
North America that is not frequently addressed in the U.S.
history books. |
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Larger burial mounds
inside of the necropolis.
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The Mound City Group is a large
Hopewell culture ceremonial center dating
back to approximately 100 BC to AD 500. It
is located in Ross County Ohio, along the Scioto
River, which is a primary tributary of the Ohio
River.
The Mound City Group consists of 24 burial
mounds framed by a large earthen enclosure in
the shape of a square with gently rounded
corners. The enclosure, referred to as the
necropolis, is 2,050 feet across and the walls
are about three feet high.
Visiting in the still of the day, sit quietly
and it is quite easy to imagine a funerary
procession slowly paddling its way down river to
this sacred site. You can nearly see
shamans and mourners in full regalia, and hear
the murmur of voices in prayer, the sounds of
drums, chimes and flutes, and you can, if you
try, smell the acrid smoke wafting through the
air.
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Preparing
for the Afterlife |
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The Hopewell buried their dead with large quantities of
beautifully made articles (artifacts). These items
often included necklaces of fresh water pearls, objects made
of copper, beautiful flint tools, artistically made pottery
and intricately carved stone pipes.
Ephraim Squier
and Edwin Davis of Chillicothe excavated several of the
mounds in the 1800s.
They made a number of remarkable discoveries, including a
deposit of more than 200 animal effigy pipes. Their
collection is now at the British Museum |
The Hopewell culture is not
the name of an American Indian tribe.
No one really knows what these ancient people may have
called themselves.
The Hopewell is an "adopted" identifier of archaeological
convenience that helps to classify similarities in artifact
style, architecture, and other cultural practices that
distinguish the Hopewell culture from earlier and later
cultures in the region. |
Visit Dr. Von Zuko's Time-Warp Museum
Article by Dr. Von Zuko 2009©
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Lost Civilizations:
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Dr. Von
Zuko's Recommended Books on Aztalan and Lost Civilizations:
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this or any topic:
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Hopewell Tradition
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A
highly decorated example of
Hopewell pottery on exhibit at the
Mound City Group. |
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Hopewell Tradition Pipe
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A
Raven effigy pipe.
This finely carved 2,000 year old stone pipe is a classic example of
the sophistication and high-art of the Hopewell culture.
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A Hopewell
Ceremonial Object.
This human hand effigy is cut from mica which came from the
Carolinas.
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Hopewell Mortuary
Practices:
The Hopewell cremated most of their deceased.
Burial of the body appears to have been reserved for only
the most important people.
At several sites, the burial goods interred with the bodies
suggest that hunters received a high status in the
community.
Very much like every other ancient (or modern) culture in
the world, the ruling class also received high-status and
elaborate burials.
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