ABCs of Ross County: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

CHILLICOTHE— From Adena Mansion to Zane's Trace Ross County is filled with a rich history. When looking at the ABCs of Ross County the H stands for Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are a collection of large earthworks built by Native Americans in the area nearly 2,000 ago. These sites were often places for ceremonies as shown by the connection with the sun and the moon.

There are several different sites in the Hopewell group which, sadly, were destroyed after Native Americans were forced to vacate the area and the land was used for farming and government projects. Some were luckily preserved and others have been recreated to showcase how they would have looked in the past.

After years and years of hard work by local historians, the sites were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. This list is compiled of historic sites from all over the world that play a significant part in the history of the world. As a member of this list, the sites can expect increased protection and tourism as people travel to view these pieces of history.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: ABCs of Ross County: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks