Presented by Dr. Bradley Lepper, Senior Archaeologist for the Ohio History Connection’s World Heritage Program

Sponored by Firelands Archaeology and the Ohio Humanities Council

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses eight enormous earthworks, including Newark’s Great Circle and Octagon Earthworks, the Fort Ancient Earthworks, and five earthworks that are part of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park – a total of eight sites that collectively tell the story of the ancient Indigenous Hopewell culture. In order to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, sites must possess outstanding universal value, which is a level of cultural significance that transcends local or even national importance. In this presentation, you will learn about the cultural significance of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and how they came to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.