Stoney Ridge in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Middle Woodland A.D. 50-450

— SunWatch Indian Village —

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

1. Middle Woodland A.D. 50-450 Marker

Inscription. The Middle Woodland period in Ohio is synonymous with the Hopewell people. They are known for their massive earthworks, extensive/long-distance trade networks, and well-developed artistic traditions. Their settlements were not villages, but rather small hamlets. Earthwork centers played a key role in uniting disperse communities by providing a social, political, and religious center.

Did you know?
Hopewell earthworks fall into two groups: geometrically shaped earthwork complexes and irregularly shaped hilltop enclosures.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Man-Made Features.

Location. 39° 42.999′ N, 84° 13.9′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Stoney Ridge. It is on West River Road half a mile south of Guthrie Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2315 W River Road, Dayton OH 45417, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley.

It is also in the American

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Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 marker: Early Woodland People (here, next to this marker); Late Woodland A.D. 450-1000 (here, next to this marker); Archaic 8000-1000 B.C. (a few steps from this marker); Paleo-Indian 9300-8000 B.C. (a few steps from this marker); The First Americans (a few steps from this marker); What Is Fort Ancient Culture? (within shouting distance of this marker); Who Lived Here And How Long Ago? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Vance Farm (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

2. SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.