Newark Earthworks

Newark Earthworks

Newark, Ohio

The Newark Earthworks are composed of three OHS sites, The Great Circle, the Octagon and the Wright mounds. Built 2000 years ago, the size and range of these mounds is impressive for a culture that probably used simple tools. The picture below shows a map of how the mounds looked before farming and urban growth destroyed most them. All that remain today are The Great Circle and Octagon in their entirety.


The pictures posted here do not show the vastness of the mounds. To think these are just a portion of what was originally a huge ceremonial area.

For the entire earthwork system there were three entry points. Although gone today, these roads which were built up on the sides with earthworks, funneled people through from three waterways. It is believed the people came by water for whatever festivals or rites in which they participated. Today it is a mystery what they believed and what they celebrated. All that is known is that these earthworks exist.

The visit to the Newark Earthworks should begin at the Great Circle, which is maintained as a city park in Newark. Inside the Visitor Center is a small museum detailing all of the Ohio mounds and their relation to each other. An interactive video was very helpful in explaining what is known of the mounds in the area. By using the computer in the back of the room, a large screen video provides details based on the areas the user chooses. The presentation can be as long or as short as is needed by clicking on the parts of interest. The interactive nature of this was a great way to get the information wanted.

The Visitor’s Center has a handout with a map of the mounds as they were built and a brief explanation. The woman working there that day was very helpful and knowledgeable about the mounds.

Straight out the Visitor Center door is the entrance to the Great Circle. This is a very wide entrance, and it was impossible to get a photograph to show the entrance because it is so large. The size is amazing, and the fact it is geometrically circular is mind-boggling. The expanse is large enough young children can run through the area and not have to worry about climbing on the mounds themselves. Within the Great Circle is another earthwork called the Eagle Mound due to its shape. It is believe this is where the shaman lived.

When the visit to the Great Circle is complete, there are two other sites to visit. We had problems finding the Wright Earthworks, supposedly a short drive from the Great Circle. What is preserved is only a small section of the square mound that was there. There is no address, and we were unable to find it based on the information on the OHS site. Before leaving Great Circle you should check with the person there to see how to find it.

The Octagon Mound is only a few miles away. In the early 1900’s the Ohio Historical Society leased the land to a private club, and today a golf course runs through the mounds. At the Moundbuilders Country Club, there are certain parking spots for mound visitors from which there is a very short walk to the observation tower allowing an overlook of the golf course/mound. A sign at the parking lot indicates if golfing is happening that day. Further access to view the mound is not allowed when golfing is permitted. There is another path on the other side of the clubhouse that gives a distant view of the Observation Mound, but access is restricted for this earthwork to the golfers.

The photos I took seem to show green parks with trees and bushes, not awe-inspiring mounds. They are inspiring to see in person even if the photos aren’t. We wondered if seeing the mounds might be better when the plants are not as much in bloom. The www.jqjacobs.net site has better pictures and maps of the Great Circle and Octagon mounds. This link is provided in the related links section below.


Upcoming Exhibits and Events –

• October 19, 2008

Octagon Earthworks Open House
Come visit Octagon Mound and learn more about the people that built this amazing structure through guided tours, lectures and hands-on activities. For more information, call 740.344.1919 or 800.600.7178. Admission: FREE


Age Appropriateness –
Young Children – medium
School Age Children – medium-high
Teens – medium
Adults – medium-high
Senior Friendly – medium-high

Physical vs. Mental –
There is no great mental or physical exertion required here. The museum at the Great Circle provides a basic background on what the mounds are. Walking the mounds is like a stroll in a city park.

Time to Allow for Visit –
½ hour for museum and interactive video
½ hour to walk the Great Circle Mound
¼ hour at Octagon if golfing is in progress. There are days to be set aside for no golfing so people can tour the mounds. A sign at the country club indicates if the earthworks are open for visitor’s to explore.


Additional Information –
Gift Shop – a small one at Great Circle
Food – no
Picnic – Picnic Tables are interspersed under the trees in the park at Great Circle.
Multilingual – No



Approximate Travel Times –
Cincinnati – 2 ½ hours
Cleveland – 2 ½ hours
Columbus – ¾ hour

Handicapped Accessibility –
The museum is completely accessible. Touring the Great Circle means walking on grass with no paved walkways. It is relatively flat but wheelchairs may have problems. The entrance to the Great Circle is easily seen from the museum/visitor center. To view the mounds from the Moundbuilders Country Club, there is climbing to the top of a wooden platform.

Volunteer Opportunities –
n/a


Helpful links:
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c08/
http://www.jqjacobs.net/archaeo/newark.html
http://www.jqjacobs.net/archaeo/octagon.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/28/national/28mounds.html
http://archaeology.about.com/od/mississippiancivilization/a/newark.htm