The Builders

The Builders. . , About 2000 years ago, the Hopewell Culture, an Indigenous spiritual movement characterized in part by the construction of massive geometric earthworks, rose to prominence in central Ohio. Across numerous sites, some separated by great distances, massive earthen squares, circles, and octagons were constructed with great precision and planning. These Earthworks demonstrate advanced knowledge of mathematics, varieties of soil, and astronomy., The people of Hopewell Culture were egalitarian and lived in small settlements spread over a large area. They supported themselves through hunting, gathering, and the cultivation of various plants. Constructing such massive earthworks would have brought these groups together, strengthened their culture, and provided new ways of understanding their world., Found within many Hopewell ceremonial sites are materials gathered from across the continent: obsidian from Wyoming, shark teeth from Florida, copper from Michigan, and shells from the Atlantic. These items indicate the widespread movement of people and goods into Ohio for ceremonial and trade purposes. They were crafted into remarkable objects that demonstrate great artistic skill.