The Hopewell

Ancient human settlements in North America are characterized by the construction of mounds and other earthworks. Here attention is concentrated on a period during which the interest for celestial phenomena and for geometrical shapes is apparent: the Hopewell (100 BC-400 AD circa). In particular, the spectacular Hopewell earthworks of Newark and their connections with the lunar cycle are presented, as well as the archaeoastronomy of the straight ceremonial road which likely connected them with the Hopewell “heartland” in Chillicothe.