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.

5-miles at Sodom Mountain, Southwick. 

"High Points" along trails during February 2026... 

• Several Unnamed High Points along the Snowmobile Corridors in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield, Massachusetts throughout the month of February.

Ashley Reservoir with K2, 4.4-miles. 

Granville, 3.8-miles Granville.

Cowles Park, 3.6-miles. 

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 III

What Made The Earthworks Worth The Journey?

Two thousand years ago, Indigenous people returned to these earthworks again and again, drawn to a landscape where belief was shaped directly into the land. What did they understand about the universe—and their place within it? 

Logan York, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, travels to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Chillicothe, Ohio, to walk the land his ancestors once shaped, and considers what guided their decisions. What purposes were embedded in these vast designs? And what understandings still lie just beyond what we can fully grasp?

Bear Hole for 4.2-miles, first loop section. 

Otis, Tolland, Sandisfield & Blandford exploration on snowmobile rooutes for 4.3-miles.

Hike with DL at Ashley Reservoir, 1.5-miles. 

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 II

What Was Life Like 2000 Years Ago In North America?

Stretching across the horizon, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks stand as monumental reminders of a world that thrived 2,000 years ago in North America. What was life like around them? 

Today, archaeologists and Native descendants are working to uncover the human stories behind these designs—stories of ingenuity, community, and deep ties to the land. 

Logan York, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, travels to Seip Earthworks in Chillicothe, Ohio, to seek answers through conversations with archaeologist Timothy Everhart, PhD, and interviews with Native voices and scholars. 

The earthworks still endure, and while we don’t know everything about how they lived, every connection brings us closer to the people who shaped this land—and whose descendants keep their story alive today.

Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield area for snowmobile trail exploration and running for 5.5-miles.

Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield area for snowmobile trail exploration and running for 4.5-miles.

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 I

Who Were The Ancestral Builders You Were Never Taught About?

Built 2,000 years ago—long before the founding of the United States—the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks stand as a testament to the ingenuity of the ancestors of many present-day tribes. But what do we truly know about the people who built them and why? 

Logan York, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, journeys to the Hopewell Mound Group in Chillicothe, Ohio, to explore these questions. 

Through conversations with archaeologists Bret Ruby, PhD, and Bradley Lepper, PhD, and interviews with Tribal representatives and scholars, Logan uncovers the cultural significance and enduring relevance of these sites—honoring those who lived, gathered, and built here generations ago.

Otis,  Tolland and Sandisfield area for some snowmobile trail exploration and running for 6-miles.