Spruce Hill Earthworks

E819186

Spruce Hill Earthworks is a prehistoric Native American earthwork complex in Ohio, notable for its large hilltop enclosure associated with the Hopewell culture.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Spruce Hill Earthworks canonical 3

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Hopewell culture site
archaeological site
hilltop enclosure
prehistoric earthwork complex
archaeologicalType enclosure earthwork
associatedWith Hopewell culture
linked to: Hopewell tradition
constructedBy prehistoric Native American peoples of the Hopewell tradition
country United States
culture Hopewell culture
linked to: Hopewell tradition
elevation hilltop
enclosureType hilltop enclosure
estimatedConstructionDate circa 100 BCE–500 CE
function ceremonial and social center (interpreted)
possible defensive refuge (interpreted)
hasFeature large enclosing embankment
multiple gateways or openings
stone-reinforced walls in some sections
hasResearchInterest Hopewell engineering and construction techniques
Hopewell social and ceremonial organization
relationship to other Hopewell earthworks in Ohio
hasView surrounding valleys and ridges
heritage Native American
linked to: Native Americans
heritageStatus protected archaeological site (state and local levels, various designations)
landform hilltop promontory
locatedIn Appalachian Plateau region of Ohio
linked to: Appalachian Plateau

Ohio
Ross County, Ohio
United States
material earth
stone
near Paint Creek Valley
other Hopewell earthwork sites in south-central Ohio
partOf Hopewell earthworks tradition in the Ohio Valley
linked to: Hopewell tradition
period Middle Woodland period
recognizedAs important archaeological resource in Ohio
region Ohio River Valley
linked to: Ohio Valley region
significance one of the largest known Hopewell hilltop enclosures
subjectOf archaeological investigations
studies of Hopewell ceremonial landscapes
threatenedBy erosion
looting and unauthorized excavations
topography constructed on a prominent hilltop
usedFor ceremonial purposes (hypothesized)
defensive or strategic purposes (hypothesized)
gatherings and rituals (hypothesized)

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Paint Creek Valley containsSite Spruce Hill Earthworks
Ross County containsSite Spruce Hill Earthworks