The wonder of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Ohio is home to a remarkable archeological wonder, constructed by Indigenous ancestors thousands of years ago.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is recognized worldwide as a marvel of human ingenuity on par with the pyramids.

“Hopewell Earthworks: Stories Written on the Land,” is a six-part digital docuseries exploring the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.

Part IV

What Did The Indigenous Astronomers Know About Space?

Thirty miles east of Columbus, Ohio, rise earthworks unlike anything most visitors have ever seen—landscape designs that still challenge researchers today. How did their Indigenous builders envision and achieve them? Far from random constructions, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks reveal a level of knowledge, intention, and artistry that continues to astonish.

Logan York, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, visits the Newark Earthworks to stand in a place where many Native people are reconnecting with their homelands. Chief Glenna Wallace (Eastern Shawnee) and Marti Chaatsmith (Comanche) join in that journey, reflecting on the meaning these places hold—not just in the past, but today.