Liberty Earthworks
Liberty Township Works · Gunckel Works
Middle Woodland Hopewell 100–350 CE·Hopewell tradition·🇺🇸 Ohio, Ross County, United States
About
About Liberty Earthworks
Hopewell valley-floor complex: great square 320 m side with small circles at corners, Liberty Mound 5 m high with log tombs, and Gunckel single mound with copper celts, adjoining Cedar Mills parallel walls. Part of Chillicothe agglomeration of six geometric centers within 15 km, plowed flat but crop-marks and LiDAR reveal wall lines. Excavated by Greber, artifacts in Ohio History Center.
Why it mattersCompletes Chillicothe density model — 6 centers within 15 km argues against single central place, supports dispersed ceremonial landscape.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of small corner circles — shrines?
- 02Relation to adjacent High Bank via Paint Creek
Theories
- 01Vacant ceremonial center model vs dispersed villages
- 02Pilgrimage fairground with feasting middens
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.100–350 CE
- Period
- Middle Woodland Hopewell 100–350 CE
- Culture
- Hopewell tradition
- Purpose
- Ceremonial enclosure and burial mound complex
- Abandoned
- c.500 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1846 Squier & Davis No.26; excavated 1940s
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1846
Mapped by Squier & Davis as Liberty Township Works No.26
1940
Garrett excavates Liberty Mound
On the ground
Structures & features
39.3500° N · 83.0500° W · 215 m · 2 mapped features
Liberty Square
enclosure320 m square enclosure with gated corners
39.3505° N · 83.0505° WLiberty Mound
mound5 m conical log-tomb mound with copper celts
39.3495° N · 83.0495° W
Gallery