The Ohio Historical Society is close to gaining control of ancient ceremonial and burial earthworks currently maintained by a country club in Newark, Ohio. These earthworks are part of the Hopewell Earthworks system, which was recently named a World Heritage Site. The earthworks were built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago by the Hopewell Culture and were the site of ceremonies that attracted people from across the continent. The Ohio History Connection, which already owns the 2,000-year-old Octagon Earthworks in Newark, aims to reclaim the lease held by the Moundbuilders Country Club in order to turn the site into a public park.
The Ohio Historical Society has valued the site at approximately $2 million, while the country club is seeking a higher return. The earthworks were constructed by Native Americans and include long earthen walls that align with lunar movements and points where the moon rises and sets over an 18.6-year cycle. Described as “part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory” by the Ohio History Connection, the earthworks hold significant cultural and historical importance for Indigenous tribes, some of which have historical ties to Ohio. In 1892, voters in Licking County enacted a tax increase to preserve what was left of the earthworks, which were later developed as a golf course in 1911.
A county judge ruled in 2019 that the historical society could reclaim the lease via eminent domain, a decision challenged by the country club. The club argued that the Ohio History Connection did not make a good faith offer to purchase the property as required by state law and claimed that it had properly maintained the mounds and allowed public access over the years. The club’s attempt to present evidence regarding the land’s value was disallowed by the trial court, leading to an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which declined jurisdiction. The ongoing legal battle centers around the control and preservation of the ancient earthworks and the transition of the site from a golf course to a public park.
The outcome of the trial, scheduled to begin soon, will determine the final terms of the transfer of control of the earthworks from the country club to the Ohio Historical Society. The society aims to preserve the earthworks as examples of Indigenous people’s achievements and cultural significance. The earthworks, which served as ceremonial and burial sites for the Hopewell Culture, have been recognized internationally as a World Heritage Site, highlighting the global importance of the site’s preservation. The legal dispute underscores the tension between commercial interests, represented by the country club, and historical and cultural preservation efforts, led by the Ohio History Connection and supported by various Indigenous tribes and local community members.
The earthworks’ unique astronomical alignments and cultural significance add to their importance as a historical site that deserves protection and preservation. The efforts to reclaim and repurpose the earthworks for public use reflect a growing awareness of the need to safeguard Indigenous heritage and historical sites. The dispute over the earthworks underscores broader issues of land ownership, cultural preservation, and Indigenous rights that are playing out in various contexts across the country. As the legal battle continues, the future of the ancient earthworks and their significance in Ohio’s history and heritage hang in the balance, awaiting a resolution that will shape the site’s fate for generations to come.
