Pictured: West mound with east mound in distance. This mound used for celestial sightings using gaps in the wall behind the north and east mounds.
Fort Ancient is a mysterious Hopewell hilltop earthwork that is 2000 years old. Recent archeological excavations have shed some light on what the builders used this area for.
There are about 3.5 miles of walls built along the top of a promontory on the Little Miami River. Some of the walls are 23 feet high; others are only 4 feet. Most are covered by trees and bushes. It is difficult to get a good picture of what the place must have looked like to the Hopewell. The wall is interrupted by about 67 gaps. Some of these are elaborate and were used as ceremonial gates. Others appear to be used to define site lines for viewing specific celestial events like the solstices.
The site also has some mounds. Four are inside the northern section of the side and are arranged in a square. At least one was used to make celestial sightings through gaps in the nearby wall. Near these four low mounds, which are covered with rock paving, is one of the main gates into the area—now used for SR 350 exit. Just outside this gate are two more, taller mounds. They originally marked the gate and the beginning of two parallel earthen walls that extended east and ended in a semicircular enclosure. I could see no trace of this construction.
The site originally had shallow ponds that must have added to the beauty of the enclosure, ditches, paved walkways, ramps, and exterior terraces. There are also some c-shaped, curved mounds that mark the main gateways. The museum has a detailed model of the site as it must have appeared at the peak of its development. Take a good look at the model before you start hiking the earthworks. It will help you put what you are seeing in perspective.
The best way to get a feel of the site is to take one of the marked trails along the inner edge of the walls. The most complete, the Earthworks Trail, is in the South Fort section. It is 1 mile long and starts and ends at the picnic area. You will be walking in the shade and the forest most of the route. The trail is basically an unimproved path through the woods. In some areas the “steps” you are using are tree roots. After a rain, the trail will be muddy.
From this trail you can also take the Eagles Trail down to a terrace that has lots of wildflowers in the spring. This trail is only a half mile but the beginning and ends are somewhat steep. From this trail there is a connecting trail to the Little Miami Bike Trail and the canoe livery.
There are also a couple of trails in the North Fort. One, called the Stone Circle Trail, is just behind the museum. It takes you back to see several stone circles. We did not manage to find them. The foliage is fairly dense so it might be best to try in the early spring or late fall. A second trail, the Mound Trail, loops you outside the earthworks to the two mounds outside the north gate.
The local Boy Scouts have placed plant identification markers along most of the trails. At the trail heads, pick up an identification guide from the mailboxes. Make sure you know what poison ivy looks like before you go. There is quite a lot of it if you get off the trails.
The picnic area has its own history and marker. It was constructed by the CCC and the shelter and stone barbeques were built by the CCC.
There is also a very good museum with lots of displays and dioramas. The museum also has a garden with examples of the food and medicinal plant the Hopewell grew. There is also a large educational area. This would be a fantastic place for a class trip. There is a lot for kids to see and do. Pick up the trail maps at the museum front desk.
Additional pictures:Hours:Location:Fees:Additional information:
State Parks.com Ohio History CentralManataka American Indian CouncilOhio.com-- Akron Beacon Journal
