Experience 8 sacred earthworks of the ancient Hopewell culture with this breathtaking book featuring 250+ images and fascinating insights on Native American history.

Between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, Native American communities built monumental earthen enclosure complexes in Ohio. They are the largest geometrically shaped earthworks in the world. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a gorgeous tribute to eight of these architectural masterpieces, featuring more than 250 images that capture their breathtaking scope, beauty, and precision. These ceremonial sites align with Sun and Moon cycles and reveal the vision and genius of their designers making connections to the cosmos.

In 2023, UNESCO added the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks to their World Heritage list--only the 25th US site with that honor. This celebratory volume brings together:

Histories of the sites
14 maps and more than 250 photographs
Summaries of the latest archaeological research
Indigenous perspectives from tribal leaders, scholars, and artists
Fresh insights on the beauty and brilliance of the earthworks

Fort Ancient, Octagon Earthworks, Great Circle Earthwork, Mound City, Hopewell Mound Group, Hopeton Earthworks, High Bank Works, and Seip Earthworks make up the eight impressive sites. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a worthy celebration of their scale, precision, and artistry, as well as the history and culture behind them.

Author: John E. Hancock
Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Published: 04/21/2026
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.65lbs
Size: 11.19h x 9.22w x 0.88d
ISBN: 9781588348128

About the Author
JOHN E. HANCOCK is Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the University of Cincinnati, where he taught architectural history, theory, and design for four decades. In collaboration with the Ohio History Connection and the US National Park Service, he served as a principal author and photographer, and designer of the UNESCO World Heritage List nomination dossier for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. MARTI L. CHAATSMITH (Comanche/Choctaw) is Associate Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at The Ohio State University at Newark. BRADLEY T. LEPPER is the Senior Archaeologist for the Ohio History Connection's World Heritage Program. BRET J. RUBY is a professional archaeologist recently retired from the National Park Service and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.

Architecture - History - Prehistoric

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Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Landscape Monuments of the Ancient Ohio Valley