Lately I have become very interested and intrigued by the Woodland period history of my area. According to records, Portsmouth Ohio, and the surrounding region was full of these woodland hunters. Here is a short and interesting history of the region where the Ohio Hopewell made their home.
The Hopewell culture was not a specific tribe or group, but rather a large diverse group of related peoples and traditions. Hopewell culture was spread throughout the Midwest during the woodland period roughly 1,500 years ago. Though the Hopewell were spread out, they were all connected by a common network of trade routes. They traded a great variety of material from around the country, to be made into exquisite art and ceremonial objects.
The epicenter of the Hopewell culture centered itself in the Scioto River valley from 200 BC to AD 500. The Ohio Hopewell were known for constructing huge burial mounds, some of which still stand today. The modern town of Portsmouth Ohio was an important place to them. Many mounds dotted the landscape where the Ohio and Scioto rivers meet. One of the biggest gathering of mounds was located here: The Portsmouth Earthworks.
The Portsmouth Earthworks was an important ceremonial site built between 100 BC to AD 500. The earthworks were divided into three sections, stretching over twenty miles long.
Group A is actually located across the river near South Portsmouth, Greenup county KY. It is known as the Old Fort Earthworks, because of it's fort-like shape.
Group B is located where the modern city of Portsmouth now stands. Group B is probably the most interesting of the mounds. Group B consists of two Horseshoe mounds surrounded partway by three semi-circular walls. There are several rings and smaller horseshoe mounds along with three long walled "roads". The main road leads south towards Greenup Ky and Biggs mound. The second leads south in the other direction to the Old Fort Mound and the third leads to Tremper mound about five miles away. Only one Horseshoe mound is left, all the others were bulldozed. The surviving mound is now in a park.
The Hopewell culture was not a specific tribe or group, but rather a large diverse group of related peoples and traditions. Hopewell culture was spread throughout the Midwest during the woodland period roughly 1,500 years ago. Though the Hopewell were spread out, they were all connected by a common network of trade routes. They traded a great variety of material from around the country, to be made into exquisite art and ceremonial objects.
The epicenter of the Hopewell culture centered itself in the Scioto River valley from 200 BC to AD 500. The Ohio Hopewell were known for constructing huge burial mounds, some of which still stand today. The modern town of Portsmouth Ohio was an important place to them. Many mounds dotted the landscape where the Ohio and Scioto rivers meet. One of the biggest gathering of mounds was located here: The Portsmouth Earthworks.
The Portsmouth Earthworks was an important ceremonial site built between 100 BC to AD 500. The earthworks were divided into three sections, stretching over twenty miles long.
Group A is actually located across the river near South Portsmouth, Greenup county KY. It is known as the Old Fort Earthworks, because of it's fort-like shape.
Group B is located where the modern city of Portsmouth now stands. Group B is probably the most interesting of the mounds. Group B consists of two Horseshoe mounds surrounded partway by three semi-circular walls. There are several rings and smaller horseshoe mounds along with three long walled "roads". The main road leads south towards Greenup Ky and Biggs mound. The second leads south in the other direction to the Old Fort Mound and the third leads to Tremper mound about five miles away. Only one Horseshoe mound is left, all the others were bulldozed. The surviving mound is now in a park.
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