Newark in Licking County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Circle
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2022
1. The Circle Marker
View of the marker situated at the top of the observation platform.
A unique feature of the circle is the so-called crown work opposite the opening to the octagon. This oval mound is 170 feet long and approximately 8 feet higher than the adjoining portions of the circle. Since the mid-19th century, this mound has been called the observatory because it overlooks the rest of the circle and octagon.
Recently, some researches noticed that a line drawn from the observatory to the opposite side of the octagon points to the location on the horizon where the moon rises at its most northerly position. If the Hopewell people intended for the earthworks to be oriented toward the rising moon, then the name observatory may be especially appropriate.
Erected by Ohio Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 3.19′ N, 82° 26.786′ W. Marker was in Newark, Ohio, in Licking County. It was on N 33rd Street near Parkview Road. This marker is located at the Moundbuilders
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Earthworks (here, next to this marker); History of the Site (here, next to this marker); Astronomical Alignments (here, next to this marker); a different marker
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2022
2. The Circle Marker
Close-up view of the diagram depicting overhead view of Octagon Earthwork that is featured on this marker.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Octagon (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Newark Earthworks (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named History of the Site (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Builders (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2022
3. The Circle Marker
View of the observation platform that the marker is situated on. Note the Moundbuilders earthwork that is situated along the base of the observation platform.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2022
4. The Circle Marker
View of the Octagon Earthworks marker in the foreground, with a distant view of the observation platform, that this marker is located on, in the background.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2022
5. The Circle Marker
View of the landscape, and the Octagon Earthworks, as seen from the top of the observation platform.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2022, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on May 7, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 17, 2022, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
