Junction Earthworks

The Junction Group of Earthworks, just outside Chillicothe, Ohio, is an ensemble of nine geometric earthworks built by an American Indian culture (now called “Hopewell”) nearly 2,000 years ago. It was first mapped in the 1840s by Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis. Like most earthwork sites in Ohio, the Junction Group was a ceremonial center.

Though the site has been thoroughly plowed and the earthworks are now quite hard to see on the surface, a magnetic survey conducted in 2005 was a resounding success and the earthworks were remarkably visible in the magnetic data. With this app, you’ll be able to see these ancient, monumental enclosures digitally restored – in videos, panoramas, and through augmented reality (AR).

• Explore five stops along the trail through the interactive map

• View overlays of Squier and Davis’s 1840s map and the Magnetic Survey results

• Experience 360-panoramas of the fully reconstructed earthworks, rendered from the point of view of each of the five stops

• Watch curated videos and learn about the earthwork’s history and geometry

• Bring the restored Junction Earthworks into the real world through AR

The site is open to public visitation. A loop trail explores the grounds and connects with adjacent nature preserves.

The Junction Earthworks were preserved through the combined efforts of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, and the Heartland Earthworks Conservancy – with support from many generous donors. To help us save more of Ohio’s ancient cultural treasures, contact:

Heartland Earthworks Conservancy at http://www.earthworksconservancy.org/