Hopewell Earthworks of Southern Ohio: A Study of the Purpose of Earthworks

Across the prehistoric landscape, the Ohio Hopewell constructed large mounds and earthworks, and though archaeologists have a general understanding of this phenomenon, questions remain as to the location, purpose, and construction of the earthworks. Answering them, however, is difficult due to the paucity of information, both written and archaeological, regarding the Hopewell and their culture. This paper attempts to discuss how the Hopewell chose earthwork locations, how the earthworks functioned within the culture, how culture affected the construction of the earthworks, and the logistics of time and labor that go into creating such large earthen structures.