Ohio Hopewell Depictions of Composite Creatures: Part II–Archaeological Context and a Journey to an Afterlife

A groundbreaking analysis of four Hopewell artifacts depicting composite creatures from the Turner earthwork in Ohio reveals their likely role in a ritual drama guiding the deceased through underwater and underground realms during their journey to the afterlife. This challenges traditional beliefs about Woodland-Plains Indian eschatology, which typically involved an earth-disk or ascension. The study integrates archaeological context with biological identification of the creatures' components and historical knowledge, offering new insights into Hopewell ceremonialism beyond 'world renewal' narratives. It also critiques recent interpretive trends in Woodland archaeology, emphasizing the importance of eschatological matters and questioning the political motivation behind mortuary rites.

Carr, C., & McCord, R. (2014). Ohio Hopewell Depictions of Composite Creatures: Part II–Archaeological Context and a Journey to an Afterlife. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology, 40(1), 18–47. https://doi.org/10.1179/2327427114y.0000000015