For Immediate Release

Earthworks Driving Tour Features 10 Sites
Promotes Tourism In Southern Ohio

(Columbus, Ohio, May 2, 2008) - The history of Ohio began long before it became the 17th state in 1803-even way well before western settlers came to this land.

Thousands of years ago, Native Ohioans populated the landscape with mounds and massive earthworks. Today, southern Ohio is a living history experience with evidence of these complex, interconnected structures that held great practical and ceremonial significance for their creators. While we have no formal records of their creation and use, we do have the study of archaeology, which has been used to form an understanding of these sites and their creators. The results of these studies are fascinating looks into a lost time.

“Ohio’s earthworks are unique in the world,” said Dean Alexander, superintendent of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. “These ancient structures, several of which are being considered for World Heritage status, are representative of the rich cultural heritage of Ohio’s early Native Americans.”

The Earthworks of Southern Ohio: Ancient Monuments of the Eastern Woodlands is a driving tour that focuses on three of the most sophisticated and talented mound-building cultures in Ohio – the Adena, the Hopewell and the Fort Ancient. It features 10 sites that are considered by experts to be among the most significant American Indian earthworks in the United States:

Mound City is the recommended first stop and is in the Chillicothe area. Mound City contains one of the largest concentrations of Hopewell burial mounds ever discovered. It encompasses roughly 15 acres and is surrounded by over 2,000 feet of earthwork walls. Mound City is located north of Chillicothe on the east side of state Route 104.

Story Mound, near another Chillicothe neighborhood, is more than a thousand years old and was a significant architectural creation of the Adena culture. Story Mound was excavated in 1897. Discovered inside were the remains of a circular Adena timber building. Although this was the first time archaeologists had seen a structure like this, it is a typical Adena architecture style. Story Mound is on Delano Avenue in Chillicothe, just a few blocks from state Route 104/High Street.

Adena Mound, one of the most historically significant sites on the tour, is representative of Adena Culture. The site provides the name of the culture based on the broad cultural, architectural and artistic significance of the objects discovered here. Unfortunately, because the field was to be used for agriculture, the mound was completely excavated and has not been restored. Visitors can tour the grounds of the Adena Mansion & Gardens and view the Logan Range, which is depicted on the Great Seal of the State of Ohio. The site where the Adena Mound once stood is on the north side of Chillicothe, near the intersection of US 23 and US 35.

The Hopewell Mound Group was one of the largest and most complex earthwork systems ever created by the Hopewell culture. The largest mound at the site was 20 feet high and 550 feet in length. On this tour visitors have the ability to follow a paved trail around the site and view the remains of earthworks more than 2,000 years old. The Hopewell Mound Group is just north of US 50 near Chillicothe.

Seip Mound is one of the few pieces left of what was once a major Hopewell earthwork complex. When originally constructed, the complex covered 121 acres. Much of the structure was lost, but Seip Mound still stands. This burial mound is a testament to the architecture and ceremony of the Hopewell culture. The mound stands 30-feet tall, 240-feet long and 240-feet wide and is one of the largest mounds ever built by the Hopewell culture. Seip Mound is 17 miles west of Chillicothe on US 50.

Perhaps the most famous ancient mound, Serpent Mound is a source of awe and wonderment. It is the largest known ancient serpent effigy in the world and the source of much admiration and speculation. Why was it constructed and what does it mean? Serpent Mound was constructed on the ridge of a geologically ancient meteoric impact crater approximately 8 km. in diameter. Natural rock formations at the end of this finger-like ridge are suggestive of a reptilian head, which may have provided the inspiration for the idea to build the serpent effigy along the top of the ridge. Serpent Mound is on state Route 73, six miles north of state Route 32 and 20 miles south of Bainbridge in Adams County.

Fort Hill is a hilltop enclosure located inside a 1,200-acre park and nature preserve filled with fascinating natural and ancient history. Scientific study of the walls of Fort Hill reveals that they were built in stages of earth and stone covered with slabs of tightly fitting sandstone. After a time, an inner wall of rocks was put in place and all were then covered with more earth and stone. This was then covered with a final facing of sandstone slabs. Fort Hill is on the east side of Highland County, 11 miles south of US 50 on state Route 41.

Piketon Mound is located in Mound Cemetery. Visitors exploring this site will get a greater understanding of how cultures reuse space and how that re-purposing affects the people and cultures that came before. Mound Cemetery is in Pike County near state Route 124, just south of Piketon.

Tremper Mound is a historically significant and culturally mysterious site. Discoveries made at Tremper give insight into the Hopewell culture and leave scientists with many new questions. Did the actions taken at Tremper mark the end of a period or a shift in a belief system? During the excavation of Tremper Mound in 1915, 600 postmolds were discovered. Postmolds are stains in the soil that mark the former locations of wooden posts. These outlined a multi-room building roughly 100-feet wide and 200- feet long. Structures such as this are now known as great houses. Tremper Mound is located north of Portsmouth where state Route 73 and state Route 104 converge.

Portsmouth Mound, part of Portsmouth Earthworks, is one of the few remaining pieces of a massive and very significant Hopewell cultural center. This site stretched across the Ohio River and was refashioned and reused by different cultures over time. What was it that made this space so important to so many different people? The Portsmouth Mound was part of a large complex of three interconnected geometric earthworks – one in Ohio and two in Kentucky. While each was linked culturally, the geometric shapes found at each site were different. Portsmouth Mound is in Mound Park on Hutchins Avenue, just north of US 52, in the heart of Portsmouth.

Tours are available for download by individual podcasts for a specific site or all 10 sites together. This self-guided interpretative tour includes directions, maps and historical and archaeological site information – in a variety of user-friendly formats accessible before or during the trip. Audio tours are available for download at $.99 per site or $7 for all. Video tours are available for download at $1.99 per site or $15 for all. In addition, the entire tour can be purchased on CD for $12.95 and on DVD for $18 95. All information is available at www.ohiohistorytours.org or by contacting the Ohio Historical Society at 614.297.2300 or 800.686.6124. Information about local attractions and communities along the tour is available from participating tourism links on the Web site.

Four sites on this driving tour are among Ohio’s nominations for the World Heritage List: Serpent Mound and the Hopewell Earthworks, represented here by Hopewell Mound Group, Mound City and Seip Mound. The World Heritage List is an exclusive group of sites in 141 countries, designated by an international World Heritage Committee administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The sites are recognized as the most outstanding examples of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Earthworks of Southern Ohio is a collaborative project between the Ohio Historical Society and Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. Additional partners include Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau, Highland County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mills James Productions, National Park Service, Ohio Department of Development-Governor’s Office of Appalachia, Pike County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Portsmouth Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Note to Media: Interviews are available from participating partners listed above. In addition, interviews are available from Ohio Historical Society and National Park Service archaeologists about the earthworks on this tour. For contact information or for site photos, please call Kim Schuette at (614) 297-2314.

Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Historical Society!