A Study of Scioto Hopewell Monuments and Monumentality

Scioto Hopewell monumental landscapes, dating back 2,000 years and located in southern Ohio, represent the most complex examples of Native American monumentality in the Eastern United States. These landscapes, composed of mounds, ditch-and-embankment earthworks, and timber-post enclosures, have persisted as significant elements in Native societies across centuries. Bayesian analysis revealed that the construction and engagement with these monuments spanned several practices, challenging the assumption of their contemporaneity. The study integrated historic records, antiquarian accounts, archaeological reports, and original excavations to provide a holistic understanding of Scioto Hopewell monumentality within local social contexts and broader interregional socioreligious phenomena. This approach underscores the need for reflexive histories that acknowledge Native reclamation and self-determination processes.

Everhart, T. (2023). A Study of Scioto Hopewell Monuments and Monumentality [University of Michigan]. https://doi.org/10.7302/7438