Travel Guide to the Newark, Ohio Adena Hopewell Burial Mounds and Earthworks

The Ohio Historical Society would like you to believe that the only earthworks in Newark, Ohio are the famous Octagon and Henge, but there are numerous burial mounds within the city. There are two sites that I have not posted, and those are the Roberts Mound and the Yost Works that are a little south of I-70.

Large Adena Burial Located South of Newark, Ohio

Large Adena Burial Located South of Newark, Ohio 

Burial mound situated on a high bluff in Perry County, Ohio looking north towards Newark, Ohio and the many mounds and earthworks.

This Adena mound is located just south of Licking County, Ohio in Perry County.  It could have been seen in the winter months from Glenford Fort.

"Address Restricted" is a thing of the past, get directions to all of Ohio's mounds and earthworks

Adena Burial Mound Near Newark, Ohio - Tippit Mound

Adena Burial Mound Near Newark, Ohio - Tippit Mound

 A little south of Newark, Ohio is the ruins of the what has been called the Tippit Adena Mound.

It is located in the Dawes Arboretum in Jacksontown. See the video of Ohio's largest Adena Hopewell burial mounds here https://youtu.be/H5NN9nNRQKg

The Tippit mound is located off of one of the hiking trails. It was excavated and only a fraction of its original size.  Another smaller mound is also located in the park.

Get Direction to 222 Mound and Earthwork Sites

Rare Early Photographs of the Newark, Ohio Earthworks

Rare Photographs of the Newark, Ohio Earthworks

Two photographs of the Newark, Ohio earthworks prior to the ceremonial center being converted in to a golf course. The Newark Earthworks are believed to have been constructed around 100 B.C. The Newark Earthworks demonstrate the knowledge of mathematics and geometry that was demonstrated in the construction of this ancient work.

The two photos featured are the circle and octagon in left portions of this map.  the Neark works also included the large henge and a square earthwork.

This photo shows the sacred via that connected the octagon and the circular earthwork.  This via nows serves as golf tee.

This is the southwest portion of the circle that features a mound and on the back end what appears to have been the beginning of two parallel walls of a sacred via.  

Early Description of the Newark, Ohio Ancient Earthworks

Early Description of the Newark, Ohio Ancient Earthworks

The immediate vicinity of Newark seems to have been a sort of headquarters, or great central city. Newark, indeed, is built upon the ruins of the works of this mysterious people, many mounds having been leveled to make way for streets and buildings, and the city has extended into the Great works, of which a cut is here given. This drawing is taken from a survey by David Wyrick, in 1860, and gives a faithful outline of the Old Fort, and the connecting works within a radius of one mile. The outlying works are nearly obliterated, with the exception of some of the parallel lines and the Octagon fort and its connecting circle. The larger circle in the drawing marked "thirty acres," represents the most prominent and best preserved of all this series of works and is now owned and used by the Licking County Agricultural society; its preservation being thus assured. The portions of the cut represented by a square, and parts of the lines of an oblong, are nearly obliterated by the growth of the city of Newark in that direction. The octagon and circle marked respectively "fifty acres" and "thirty acres," have been partially subjected to the leveling processes. The whole plain between the South and Raccoon forks of Licking river, and covering an area of several square miles, bears traces of occupation by the "lost race." It is evident from the remains here found, that this section was densely populated, and the character of the works, too, bear out the assumption that this people passed through the different stages of existence that fall to the changing experience of nations at the present day. The following description of the Old Fort is probably the most accurate as to measurements and other particulars yet given, being the result of actual surveys made by Colonel Charles Whittle sey, of Cleveland, and Isaac Smucker, esq., of Newark : "The Old Fort is situated a mile and a half in a southwesterly direction from the court house in Newark, and belongs to the class of Mound Builders' works known as inclosures. It is not a true circle, the respective diameters being eleven hundred and fifty, and twelve hundred and fifty feet. Its banks, nearly a mile in length, were formed by throwing up the earth from the inside, which left a ditch of sloping sides, ten feet (in many places more) in depth, and ranges, in perpendicular height, measuring front bottom of ditch to top of bank, from twenty to thirty feet. This inclosure, which embraces within it about twenty-seven acres of land, was constructed on level ground, and the ditch above described was often seen, during the earlier decades of the present century, partially, and sometimes wholly, filled with water all around the circle. From some cause it has not held water of later years to any great extent. Viewed from the outside, the embankment does not rise more than ten to fifteen feet above the surface of the surrounding ground, but observed from its top, the eye taking in the depth of the ditch, it seems, of course, much higher, so as to correspond in height, at least, to the figures above given. "The Old Fort has an entrance or gateway, which is flanked by a high bank or parapet on either side of it, running outward forty yards. The gateway and parallel walls or parapets are on the eastern side, of the circle, and the ditch which follows it also extends to the termination of the parallel banks that cover the entrance. Mere the banks are highest; the parallel walls, as well as those which form the circle immediately adjoining them at the gateway, reaching, for a short distance, a perpendicular height of at least thirty feet, measuring from the bottom of the ditch, or twenty feet, measuring on the outside. The gateway or entrance measures seventy-five feet between the ditches or moats, and between the parapets or banks of earth that flank the entrance, one hundred and thirty feet around the circle, as well as upon the parallel walls at the     entrance. They are equal in size to those that are yet found on the outside of the inclosure and \\ within it and of the same varieties. Some of them measure ten feet in circumference and are still thrifty, giving no indications of decay. One of the largest trees that stood on this embankment was cut down in 1815, and its concentric circles showed that it had attained to the venerable age of over one hundred and fifty years.
     In the middle of the Old Fort is an elevation, evidently artificial, which never fails to attract the attention of the observing, and is generally designated as Eagle mound. It is full six feet high, and is in the form and shape of an eagle in flight, with wings outspread, measuring from tip to lip two hundred and forty feet, and from head to tail two hundred and ten feet, and is clearly of the effigy class of the works of the Mound Builders. It faces the entrance, and therefore lies in an east and west direction, its wings extending north and south. Excavations made many years ago into the center of this earthen figure, where the elevation is greatest, developed an altar built of stone, upon which were found ashes, charcoal and calcined bones, showing that it had been used for sacrificial purposes. "Many have held the opinion that the Old Fort was a military work, constructed for defence, but its location on a level plain, its symmetrical form and inside ditch, and the indications of the presence of fire, seen on the altar, and its sacrificial uses, so clearly suggested, all go to render this opinion to be erro neous, or, to say the least, one highly improbable. All the known facts pertaining to it go to raise the presumption that within this inclosure were conducted by Mound Buiders, the rites and ceremonies of their religion, they having manifestly been a religious and superstitious race, given to the practice of offering up human as well as animal sacrifices. "Others have believed that the Old Fort was the seat of government of the Mound Builders, and that their monarch resided here
    "It was in October. 1800, when Isaac Stadden. a pioneer settler in the Licking valley, discovered it. One of the most astonishing and incomprehensible things about this great earthwork is the ditch inside of it. This, as Mr. Smucker says, is yet ten feet deep, and is, probably, fifteen or twenty feet wide at the top. If it were not for the immense trees that yet stand on the embankment, one would be inclined to place the construction of this work within the last century, from the fact that other wise this ditch should have long since disappeared, having been filled, by the yearly drift of leaves, etc, to the surface of the ground. When the fact is considered that this ditch has stood in the midst of the forest for centuries, and has thus been a safe receptacle for the yearly fall of leaves that would naturally drift into it, that the storms of centuries have been washing its banks, that, as Mr. Smucker says, water once stood a good portion of the year in it, with its relaxing and dissolving tendencies, the absorbing questions are, how deep must this ditch have been at first, and what tools could the workmen have used to raise the dirt to such a height, and for what purpose was it constructed ; why, especially, was it made so deep? Supposing that from all the causes above     enumerated, the ditch had filled one inch per year for six hundred years; even that would give it a depth of fifty feet at first. It would seem more probable that it would fill five or six inches every year, instead of one inch; and it is thought these works are a thousand years old instead of six hundred. This being true, would make this ditch very much deeper, and only increases the mystery that already surrounds these works. Here is an opportunity for scientific investigation that should not he lost. A shaft sunk in the bottom of this ditch would probably reveal its original depth. The immensity of these works is truly wonderful and awe-inspiring. The stranger visiting them for the first time can only look and wonder. The pyramids of Egypt are counted among the "seven wonders of the world," but in what particular are they so much more wonderful than this earthwork? Both are equally mysterious and incomprehensible. The "Eagle Mound" in the center of this inclosure, is somewhat disappointing at first sight, and does not appear to have much resemblance to an eagle. It more resembles the shape and form of a honey-bee, and might more appropriately have been called the "Honey-Bee mound." The wings are not pointed, like those of a bird, but circular, like those of a bee, and the body is shaped much like that of the bee. Samuel Park, esq., thus writes concerning these works: •' Mr. Atwater says that many of the writers on these antiquities never saw the works themselves, or if they did. it was only from some public conveyance in hasty flight through the coun try; and consequently they know nothing about them, and their representations are not reliable. This, no doubt, in some instances is true. But those newspaper correspondents, and other persons seeking literary renown, are not the only persons chargeable with having arrived at conclusions, and published opinions, based upon observations quite too superficial. Mr. At water himself, with all his care, is not safe from this charge, for in his report on the antiquities of Licking county, though he made a personal survey of them, seems to have but little knowledge of their extent and diversity of character. He gives us very correct diagrams of a portion of the works in Cherry Valley, and speaks of one or two mounds, south of Newark, and some pits below Newark, and south of Licking river. These he calls the works in Licking county, while they constitute but a very small proportion of them.
   The mathematical skill manifest in the construction of some of these works, as well as the fine topographical engineering shown in the location of these signal mounds, indicate a pretty high degree of culture, for that age of the world, and. I think, conclusiw evidence that they were not erected by the ancestors of our native Indians, as it is not probable that they ever advanced bevond the hunter-grade of civilization in which we found them, while our Mound Builders must have been much in advance of this. These signal mounds are not always found on the highest hills, but where they will command the most complete view of the whole land, whether below or above their location, and where they can be seen by the greatest number of other mounds, by views through valleys, or between distant hill- lops. This feature is an important one, and cannot be the result of accident. On the contrary, it shows a careful economy in locating them, so as to attain the object of their erection with the least amount of labor possible. This would have been needless had their design been other than that we have assigned them. They would, in many instances, have much belter suited the theory of 'worship in high places,' or of 'monuments for the dead," if they had been differently situated from that in which we find them. 

300 Foot Stone Circle With Interior Burial Mounds Reported at the Newark Ohio, Earthworks

300 Foot Stone Circle With Interior Burial Mounds Reported at the Newark Ohio, Earthworks

North of the Newark, Ohio henge was discovered a large 300-foot cobblestone circle that surrounded large burial mounds. It's the closest counterpart is the Mayburgh Henge In England, that was also constructed from thousands of river cobblestones.

      A curious group of mounds that attracted the attention and wonder of the pioneers, were unfortunately destroyed by the building of the Central Ohio railroad. They were not far from the Old Fort and stood just at the foot of Cherry Valley, and a little east of the Ohio canal, where the above-mentioned railroad crosses it. Three of these mounds stood in a line north and south; the fourth was a little east and between the two northern ones. They were all joined together at the base. In the destruction of this remarkable group of mounds, many interesting relics and facts were unearthed that appear worth preservation. The mound farthest south was included in the embankment of the Central Ohio railroad and was first destroyed. The other three were greatly injured by the earth being taken to make the railroad embankment. The northern mound was the largest and was about twenty feet high. This was finally leveled to form a site for a rolling mill. The upper eight feet of this mound was composed almost entirely of black loam, which appeared in layers. 
      A hole near the center was observed to continue down very near to the bottom of the mound. In some places this was filled with sand, differing from the earth around it. In the lower eight feet of the mound, quite a number of these perpendicular holes were observed. About one half of the lower portion of the mound was made of layers of blue clay; then there was a layer of sand, followed by- one of cobblestone, which appeared to be immediately over a strong burning. This layer of stone was about five feet from the base. In the middle mound, the layer of cobblestone was about eight feet from the base, was in the center of the mound, sixteen inches thick, and extended all over it, thinning out toward the edges. The cobblestone, in all places, seemed to be put on immediately over the burning, none of the stones having the marks of fire, except those coming in contact with the burnt earth. The heat of the fire must have been intense, for the small stones in places were quite friable, and in places strongly marked with oxide of iron. This iron appearance led many to think that iron tools might have been placed there and rusted out.
    In the fourth mound, the cobblestones were placed over burnings and on a level with the surrounding surface and covered with creek sand. The blue clay in the northern mound must have been brought from a distance, there being none near like it. About three feet below the surrounding surface of the earth, and near the bottom of the large mound, the workmen, in digging the pit for the flywheel, found several pieces of bones and a part of the lower jaw of a human being with one tooth yet remaining in it All the bones gave evidence of great age, and were in small pieces. The cobblestone layers in these mounds and the post holes are unusual features. Could the latter have been for a framework, from which to suspend victims for sacrifice? 
   Surrounding this entire group of mounds was a cobblestone way, about eight feet wide. This is yet plainly to be seen north of the railroad, but the remainder has been destroyed. This oblong circle of stone must have been one hundred yards in its north and south diameter, and sixty-six yards east and west. Within sight of this group of mounds were originally about one dozen. Many of these have been destroyed. The digging of the pit for the fly-wheel revealed, the lower portion of this mound, better than examination heretofore made, and showed plainly that human beings had been buried at least four feet beneath the surrounding surface of the earth. During the excavating process, the place was visited by many citizens, and gentlemen from a distance, and much interest taken. The greater portion of these mounds being composed of sand and loam may account for the paucity of bones found in them. The best-preserved skeletons are found where the ground is mostly clay. 

The Jacksontown Adena Burial Mound, Located Near Newark, Ohio

The Jacksontown Adena Burial Mound, Located Near Newark, Ohio

Recent photo of the Jacksontown Adena burial mound.  

Photo of the Jacksontown burial mound, located a few miles south of Newark prior to its excavation

     The earth mound on the plank road between Newark and Jacksontown, on the farm of Mr. Taylor, is one- of good size, and much interest attaches to it on account of the very careful and scientific examination given it, a few years ago, by Professor Marsh, of Yale college, and who gave it a very extensive notoriety through "Silliman's Journal," as well as in a carefully prepared pamphlet publication. He found in it ashes, charcoal, flint, a broken pipe made of soft limestone, pieces of a tube of the same material, a string of over one hundred native copper beads, strung on a twisted cord of coarse vegetable fibre ; also shell beads, human skeletons, decayed layers of reddish brown powder, layers of burned clay, white chaff, implements of various kinds, lance and arrow heads, six hand axes made of hematite and green stone, a hatchet, a flint chisel, a flint scraper, many bone implements, five needles or bodkins from three to six inches in length, made of the bones of the deer, an implement for moulding pottery, numerous peculiar implements made from the antlers of the deer and elk, a whistle made from the tooth of a young black bear, spoons made of shells, a vessel of coarse pottery, frag ments of a vase, various animal bones, such as the elk, deer, rabbit, wolf, woodchuck and river mussel, and various other things, including seven teen human skeletons, in whole or in part. No bones of domestic animals were found. The exploration of the mound was more perfect and thorough than that of any other within the limits of the county, and its yield of archaeological treasure was generous. Mr. G. P. Russell, of Harvard college, with a number of gentlemen of Newark, assisted in this examination, and retained possession of some of those valuable mound deposits. This is but a single instance of the richness of this county, archaeologically considered, and shows what treasures are yet in reach of those who would give these mounds a thorough examination.

40 Foot Stone Mound South of Newark Was Ohio's Ancient Jewel Before it was Destroyed

40 Foot Stone Mound South of Newark Was Ohio's Ancient Jewel Before it was Destroyed

A wooden coffin was found at the bottom of the mound that contained a large skeleton. With this skeleton was found a wooden box that contained ancient Hebrew Script of the Ten Commandments. Since this evidence was contrary the Smithsonian's theory. The mound had to be destroyed.

THE Mound Builders' works are found in various parts of Licking township, the stone mound about a mile south of Jacksontown being of the greatest magnitude. It was of gigantic proportions, measuring one hundred and eighty-three feet in diameter at its base, and when found by the pioneer settlers, was between thirty and forty feet in height. Many hundred wagon loads of stone were removed from it, and used in the construction of the reservoir, in the cellar walls in the neighborhood, and in the villages along the National road, so that at present it will not probably average more than eight feet in height. A tolerably well preserved coffin, containing a skeleton, was found in it some years ago, with a quantity of beads and other trinkets. Other but less authenticated relics are often named in connection with this mound. The "decalogue stone" with some others require verification. This mound is situated on high ground, and was built of un-hammered stone of tolerably uniform size and very large. Hon. Isaac Smucker, who is well informed on the subject, says it was the largest stone mound of which he has any knowledge. Itis also the only one of its class in the township.

Granville, Licking County, Ohio's Alligator Mound Alignments and Numerology

Granville, Licking County, Ohio's Alligator Mound Alignments and Numerology

Early map of the Alligator mound. It may have been some other kind of reptile. It shares an alignment with the large Newark Circle or henge, as they are both aligned to the May 1st sunrise.May 1st was the emergence of frogs and other reptiles and a sign that life was returning to the landscape.

The traveler between Newark and Granville will observe many of these mounds, a few yet pretty well preserved, even on the extensive and rich bottoms of the Raccoon ; but the better preserved works, and those probably the most interesting, are located upon the hills that shut in the valley. Captain M. M. Munson, who occupies a beautiful farm in the midst of these mounds, and who has made them something of a study, is confident that around the great alligator mound, located not far from his house, is a complete system of mounds and earthworks that point to it as a common center. However this may be, there is certainly a large circle of works in this vicinity, extending several miles in every direction, and seemingly connected with each other and with the "Old Fort" near Newark and its contiguous works. The Alligator mound is situated upon the summit of a hill nearly two hundred feet high, about six miles west of Newark; near Granville. The shape and form of this reptilian monster are distinctly presented, so that all admit, at the first; glance, that it was undoubtedly intended to represent the alligator or American crocodile. His enitire length is two hundred feet and ten feet. The greatest  breadth of his body is twenty feet, and his length  between the fore legs and hind legs is fifty feet.

The length of the Alligator of 210 feet is a good clue that this work had a solar reference. Sun temples or henges at Mounds State Park and Cambridge City, Indiana, Athens Ohio, Chillicothe, Ohio were all 210 feet in diameter or 660 feet in circumference.

Two henges from the Junction Group near Chillicothe, Ohio with a diameter of 210 feet.

The limbs are each twenty-five feet long. The head, fore shoulders and back have an elevation varying from three to six feet, while the remainder of the body averages considerably less. The head, limbs and tail gradually taper off to their termination. The scholarly author of "Historic Man" visited this effigy in 1876, just before the issue of the third edition of his work, and he expresses the belief that it "symbolizes some object of special awe and veneration, thus reared on one of the chief 'high places' of the nation, with its accompanying altar, upon which these ancient people could witness the celebration of the rites of their worship, its site having been obviously selected as the most prominent feature in a populous district abounding in military, civic and religious structures." It is probable this effigy was an object of worship, as the Mound Builders were certainly a superstitious and idolatrous race. 

The stone cairn that was next to the effigy is very similar to that found at the Tarleton Cross.

The Tarleton Cross with an adjoining stone mound.  In the center of the cross is a deep basin where it is believed that fires were made during solar events.

     It probably belongs to the same class of mounds as the "Eagle mound" in the "old fort." The hill upon which the Alligator mound is situated, is a "spur" jutting into the level bottom, and not far from the foot of the hill, and to the east of it perhaps one fourth of a mile, on the level bottom, is the curiously shaped mound called the "Crescent." It is an "immense pile of dirt," which seems to lie upon top of the ground as if it had been transported from a distance, thrown down there and fashioned into the shape of a half-moon or crescent. It is composed largely of gravel and in its composition differs largely from the dark, loamy earth around it. This mysterious crescent-shaped pile has been plowed over for fifty years or more, and of course is much reduced in height, but is yet probably six or seven feet high. It is large and thick in the center, and tapers in either direction to a point. It is located on lot number eight of the Granville purchase, now owned by D. M. Knapp.

Photograph of the Hopewell Road

Aerial Photo of the Hopewell Road
Photograph of the Hopewell Road from Google Maps

View Larger Map

Scan a little north of the Airport. In the field between Central Parkway and Geller Park, you can clearly see the parallel burms of the road. It is believed that the Hopewell Road ran from the Octagon shaped work in Newark to Chillicothe, Ohio.
Another note of interest is o this map is that Geller Park is the highest point in the city of Newar, Ohio.  Burial mounds can still be seen on the high point of ground there. Also. if you draw a line from those mounds to the Octagon and another to the henge, a perfect triangle is formed.

Ohio's Lost Stone Pyramid Mound: Near Newark, Ohio

Ohio's Lost Stone Pyramid Mound: Near Newark, Ohio

The Mound Builders by J.P. McLean 1879

Licking County, Ohio

    Perhaps the largest and finest stone mound in Ohio was that which stood about eight miles south of Newark, and one mile east of the reservoir on the Licking Summit of the Ohio canal. It was a composed of stones found on the adjacent grounds, laid up, without cement, to the height of about fifty feet, with a circular base of one hundred and eighty-two feet if diameter. It was surrounded by a low embankment of an oval form, accompanied by a ditch, and having a gateway at the east end. When the reservoir, which is seven miles long, was made, in order to protect the east bank, so that it might be used for navigation, the stones from this mound were removed for that purpose. During the years 1831-32 not less than fifty teams were employed in hauling them, carrrying away from ten thousand to fifteen thousand wagon loads. Near the circumference of the base of the mound were discovered fifteen or sixteen small earth mounds, and a similar one in the center. These small mounds were not examined until 1850, when two of them were opened by some of the neighboring farmers. In one were found human bones with some fluviatile shells, and in the other, two feet below a layer of hard, white fire clay, they came upon a trough, covered by small logs, and in it was found a human skeleton, around which appeared the impression of coarse cloth. With the skeleton were found fifteen copper rings and a breastplate or badge. The wood of the trough was in a good state of preservation, the clay over it being impervious to both air and water. The central mound was afterwards opened and found to contain a great many human bones, but no other relics of any note. All of these mounds, so far as they have been explored, contain earth from a distance- the fire clay having been brought from Flint Ridge, six or eight miles distant.

Ohio Mounds: Newark Earthwork Complex Photo Essay

Newark Ohio Earthwork Complex Photo Essay

Map of the Newark, Ohio Adena Hopewell Earthwork Complex

      The very extensive and complicated series of works here presented occur at the junction of the South and Raccoon forks of Licking River, one mile west of the town of Newark, Licking County, Ohio. Like those at Marietta, the works in question occupy a high fertile plain. This plain is here of great extent and elevated from thirty to fifty feet above the alluvial bordering the streams: it is for the most part level, but in places broken and undulating.

      These works are so complicated, that it is impossible to give anything like a comprehensible description of them. The plan, with the illustrative supplementary plans and sections, will furnish a better conception, as a whole and in detail, than could be afforded in any other way. It will be the object of the text to supply such information as cannot be obtained from the plan.

      The group covers an extent of about two miles square, and consists, as will be observed, of three grand divisions, connected by parallels and works of a minor character. The walls of the parallels, and of the irregular portions of the works generally, as well as of the small circles, (of which there are a considerable number,) are very slight; for the most part not exceeding four feet in height. The embankments of the principal, or regular portions of the works, are much heavier. Those of the larger circular work, E, are about twelve feet in perpendicular height by fifty feet base and have an interior ditch seven feet deep by thirty-five wide. At the gateway or entrance, the walls are much higher than at any other point, being not less than sixteen feet in altitude, with a ditch thirteen feet deep, giving an absolute height of about thirty feet from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the embankment. The wall of the lesser circle, F, is six feet in height, and is unaccompanied by a ditch. The walls of the octagonal, as well as of the square work, are but five and a half feet high, and are also destitute of ditches, either exterior or interior.

Gateway of the massive henge at Newark, Ohio that is aligned to the May 1 sunrise.

The circular structure E  is undoubtedly one of the best preserved and most imposing in the State. There are many enclosing larger areas, but none more clearly defined. At the entrance, which is towards the east, the ends of the walls curve outwards, for the distance of a hundred feet, leaving a passageway eighty feet wide, between the deep ditches on either hand. Here, covered with the gigantic trees of a primitive forest, the work presents a truly grand and impressive appearance; and, in entering the ancient avenue for the first time, the visitor does not fail to experience a sensation of awe, such as he might feel in passing the portals of an Egyptian temple, or in gazing upon the silent ruins of Petra of the desert. This work is not, as has been generally represented, a true circle; its form is that of an ellipse, its diameters being twelve hundred and fifty feet, and eleven hundred and fifty feet respectively. There are two or three slight irregularities in the outline, too trifling however to be indicated in the plan. The area of the enclosure is something over thirty acres. It is an almost perfect level, and is still covered with the original forest. Immediately in the centre of the area is a mound of a singular shape, of which an enlarged plan, Fig. 12, is here given. It much resembles some of the "animal-shaped mounds" of Wisconsin and was probably designed to represent a bird with expanded wings. It can hardly be called a mound but is rather a group of four, so arranged and connected as to constitute an unbroken outline. Bird effigy burial mound located in the center of the henge and aligned to the May 1st sunrise.  The bird representing "transition" from the winter to the spring.       Denominating the figure, for the sake of distinction, a bird, the dimensions are as follows: Length of body, one hundred and fifty-five feet; of each wing, one hundred and ten feet; between the tips of the wings, measuring in a right line, two hundred feet; width of body, sixty-three feet; of wings, in centre, forty-five feet; of same, next the body, forty feet; height of mounds composing the body, seven feet; of mounds composing the wings, five feet. The head of the bird points directly towards the entrance of the enclosure. The bearing of the body is S. 65° E. Immediately in the rear of the effigy, and one hundred feet distant, is a semi-circular embankment, about two hundred feet in length; it is but slightly elevated, and can hardly be traced; it is nevertheless exhibited in the plan The long mound constituting the body of the bird, has been opened. Upon examining the excavation, it was found that the structure had originally contained an altar: whether any relics were found upon it, is unknown. This feature, in conjunction with others, seems to point out a religious or superstitious design to this individual structure, if not to the whole group of works with which it is connected.

      Passing over the intermediate intricate works, of which it would be futile to attempt a description, we come to the octagon and its dependencies. The angles of this octagon, it will be observed, are not coincident, although its sides are very nearly equal. At each of the angles is a gateway, which is covered upon the interior by a small, truncated pyramidal elevation, (Fig. 14,) five feet in height, and measuring eighty by one hundred feet at the base. These are placed about sixty feet interior to the walls. The area of this work, which is a rich and beautiful level, is something over fifty acres. 

One segment of the octagon wall with the interior mound with the interior mound visible to the left.


     Connected with the octagon by parallels three hundred feet long, and placed sixty feet apart, is the smaller circle F. Unlike the other circular work, this is a true circle, two thousand eight hundred and eighty feet, or upwards of half a mile in circumference. It encloses no mounds, but possesses a remarkable feature in the line of the wall, at a point immediately opposite the entrance. This consists of a crown work, (Fig. 15,) which is wholly unlike anything heretofore noticed. It would almost seem that the builders had originally determined to carry out parallel lines from this point; but after proceeding one hundred feet, had suddenly changed their minds and finished the enclosure, by throwing an immense mound across the uncompleted parts. This mound, which may be taken as constituting a part of the wall of the enclosure, is one hundred and seventy feet long, eight feet higher than the general line of the embankment, and overlooks the entire work. It has been called the "Observatory," from this fact: it probably had some other purpose than that of a look-out, but what purpose, it is not undertaken to say. It has been pretty thoroughly excavated, but the excavations seem to have disclosed nothing, except an abundance of rough stones, which must have been brought from the creek or some other remote locality, as none are scattered over the remarkable plain upon which these works are situated.

The circle at Newark that is attached to the octagon with what is called the "Observatory" mound.

From the octagon lead off three lines of parallel walls: those extending towards the south have been traced for nearly two miles, and finally lose themselves in the plain; the remaining parallels terminate as shown in the plan. They are upwards of a mile in length. The walls composing these singular lines are placed, about two hundred feet apart, and are parallel throughout. A singular feature occurs in the northern one, which is exhibited by the transverse section g h. For the space of a quarter of a mile, an advantage is taken of a slight natural ridge to construct between the walls a broad embankment, something higher than the parallels themselves. 

One small segment of one of the parallel walls is all that remains of this sacred via that has been conjectured to have run all the way to Chillicothe, 60 miles distant.

      It is broad enough to permit fifty persons to walk abreast. A similar peculiarity is observed in the short parallel leading from the square enclosure towards the great circle E, and is exhibited by the section i l. A feature somewhat analogous occurs within the parallels extending from the irregular works on the extreme right of the plan. This parallel is carried down the bank of the third terrace, which is here fifteen or twenty feet high. Within the lines, the bank is cut down, and regularly graded to an easy ascent. The pathway or road, for a portion of its extent upon the alluvions, is elevated above the walls, as shown in longitudinal section m n. A similar grade is constructed at the extremity of the northern parallel, where the natural bank is much higher than at any other point. Here the bank is excavated inwardly, for upwards of one hundred and fifty feet; and a portion of the earth is appropriated to form an elevated way over the low swampy ground immediately at the foot of the terrace. These excavations constitute quite imposing features, when viewed on the spot, but are hardly distinguishable upon the plan.

One of the parallel walls can be seen outside of the large henge running towards the square enclosure.

    A number of small circles are found connected with the works and are chiefly embraced in the area between the two principal parallels. They are about eighty feet in diameter, without gateways opening into them; and it has been suggested that they probably mark the sites of ancient circular dwellings. The circles indicated by the letter G are of much larger dimensions and are characterized by ditches interior to their walls. They each have a diameter of about two hundred feet, and have elevated embankments constructed interior to the ditch, as seen in the plan. This peculiarity has been already remarked, in some of the works of the Scioto Valley.

A small circle with a serpentine gateway is situated outside of the octagon.

      Upon the lower terraces, towards the point of junction between the South and Raccoon forks, a great number of mounds of various sizes are situated. Some are large, but for the most part they are small. A small truncated pyramid once existed here, but the construction of the Ohio canal, and the subsequent establishment of the village of Lockport at this point, have obliterated this as well as numerous other mounds. Indeed, these causes have resulted in the almost total destruction of the singular maze of embankments, which communicates directly with the square enclosure. The ancient lines can now be traced only at intervals, among gardens and outhouses. At the period when the original survey, upon which this plan is constructed, was made, which is twelve years ago, the lines could all be made out. A few years hence, the residents upon the spot will be compelled to resort to this map, to ascertain the character of the works which occupied the very ground upon which they stand.

     Within the area partially enclosed by this series of works, was formerly a large natural pond, covering upwards of one hundred acres. It has been drained, so that the greater portion is under cultivation. Previous to the earthquake of 1811, which resulted in the destruction of New Madrid on the Mississippi, it is said but little water was contained in the basin; after that event it rose to the depth of ten feet, and retained that level until the drainage took place. It has been suggested that it owed its origin to artificial excavation; but it is incontestibly natural, like several other smaller depressions in the vicinity, which still contain water. Excavations, denominated "wells," from which the materials for the construction of the wall were taken, are abundant in the neighborhood of these works.

      Several extraordinary coincidences are exhibited between the details of these works and some of those already described. The smaller circle F is nearly identical in size with that belonging to the "Hopeton Works," and with the one attached to the octagon, in the "High Bank" group. The works last named are situated upon the Scioto, seventy miles distant. The square has also the same area with the rectangle belonging to the Hopeton, and with the octagon attached to the High Bank Works. The octagon, too, has the same area with the large, irregular square at Marietta. 

Two of the walls of the square work at Newark, Ohio are still visible


     The small circles G, G, G, betray a coincidence with those in connection with the works above mentioned, which ought not to be overlooked. It is not to be supposed that these numerous coincidences are the result of an accident.

       It would be unprofitable to indulge in speculations as to the probable origin and purposes of this group of works. That it could not have been designed for defense, seems too obvious to admit of doubt.  The reasons urged against the hypothesis of a defensive origin in the Marietta works apply with double force here. The structure which, from the height and solidity of its walls, would seem best adapted for defense, has its ditch interior to the embankment,—a blunder which no people possessing the skill and judgment displayed in the defensive works of the mound-builders, would be apt to commit.

      Hill works, incontestibly of a defensive origin, occur within four or five miles of this group, the relative positions of which are indicated by the "Map of six miles of the Newark Valley." About four miles distant, and overlooking those works, is placed, upon the summit of a high hill, a gigantic effigy of some animal, probably the alligator. Of this remarkable structure a plan is presented on a subsequent page. Around these works, in the valley and crowning the hills bordering it, are numerous mounds, all of which, as compared with those of the Scioto, are singularly broad and flat. Many of them have been opened, but no account has been preserved of their character. So far as could be ascertained from diligent inquiry, they do not essentially differ in their contents from those found elsewhere in the State. Fifteen or twenty miles to the northward of these works, are others of an interesting character, which have never been investigated, and of which no public notice has yet been taken.

Why was Newark Built? To Honor What Gods? Find Out Here!