Hopewell Mounds Chillicothe,Ohio

The Hopewell peoples of American Indians lived between the years 2,200 to 1,550 years ago. They are recognized as the architects of the mounds found three miles north on Route # 104 at  Chillicothe, Ohio.

The Hopewell settled along the riverbanks in present day Ohio and in other regions between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

The set of mounds in the Mound City earthworks is made up of at least 23 mounds and are built next to the Scioto River where easy accesses could be made by water.

  
The mounds are encircled by a low earthen wall that runs around the mounds. Some of the structure of the wall and mounds were destroyed when the are was used during World War I as a training facility for Camp Sherman.

The Hopewell people made their living by hunting, gathering, gardening and trading.
No one lived at the earthworks and artifacts found inside the mound when excavated were reveled that the mounds were primarily used to cover burials. 

A wooden structure containing a clay platform was probably the scene of funeral ceremonies and other gatherings.The dead were either cremated or buried on-site.

Objects of copper, stone, shell and bone were placed near the remains.
Shells were fashioned into beads. Copper and silver was hammered into thin sheets then designs were cut from them. Shark, bear and other teeth adorned ceremonial clothing and jewelry.  Clay artifacts and pots were also found along with artifacts of flint, mica and pipestone. Some of the items found were intricate in their designs showing the artistry of the Hopewell people.

The Mound City Group was declared a national monument in 1923.
The park is open seven days a week but closed on holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A museum is also located at Mound City.