Heath in Licking County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Monumental Works of Earth

Complex Hallmarks of Indigenous Knowledge

— The Ancient Ohio Trail —

Monumental Works of Earth Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 9, 2022

1. Monumental Works of Earth Marker

Inscription. The main axis of Newark’s Octagon Earthworks marks the northernmost rising of the Moon. The earthworks include additional alignments to all other key lunar rise and set points in a cycle that takes 18.6 years to complete. Yet, the Octagon is not an astronomical observatory. Aligning their architecture with cosmic rhythms was one way in which the ancient Native American builders marked these places as sacred.

Erected by Ohio Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans.

Location. 40° 2.479′ N, 82° 25.708′ W. Marker is in Heath, Ohio, in Licking County. Marker is on Hebron Road (Ohio Route 79) near Parkview Drive and Hopewell Drive. This marker is situated in the Newark Earthworks Park, along the main walking path that runs from the parking lot to the Great Circle Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 455 Hebron Rd, Heath OH 43056, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Was this a fort? (within shouting distance of this marker); Pathway to Preservation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Newark Earthworks (within shouting distance of this marker);

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What's Missing? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Earthen Architecture (about 500 feet away); Pathway to Ancestors (about 500 feet away); Great Circle Earthworks (about 600 feet away); An Eagle at the Center (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Heath.

Regarding Monumental Works of Earth. UNESCO inscribed the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a World Heritage Site on September 19, 2023, comprising the park and related sites.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 9, 2022

2. Monumental Works of Earth Marker

Distant view of the marker situated along one of the modern day Newark Earthwork's walkways, with a distant view of the opening to the Circle Mound in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 6 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.