Newark Earthworks: Honoring the Past and Looking Toward the Future (R)

Newark Earthworks: Honoring the Past and Looking Toward the Future (R) will be presented on Wed., Jul. 22 @ 6:00 p.m. Sarah Hinkelman, Site Superintendent Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge will be presenting. Register in person or online at: blufftonpubliclibrary.org/programs-services/program-registration The Newark Earthworks comprise the Great Circle and the Octagon Earthworks, remnants of a vast ceremonial complex that once covered approximately 4.5 square miles across what is now the city of Newark. Built by Indigenous peoples between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, these structures are part of a broader network of monumental architecture known as the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. The Newark Earthworks are among the best-preserved examples of their kind, owing to the foresight and dedication of early Licking County residents, early archaeological interest, and sustained grassroots advocacy to raise public awareness. These efforts culminated in the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. This presentation will trace the history of the Newark Earthworks from the precontact period to the present, exploring how past and present intersect—and looking ahead to how ongoing stewardship, research, and community engagement will shape the future of this extraordinary place for generations to come.