Ohio’s historical society is on the verge of gaining control over an ancient ceremonial and burial site currently maintained by a country club where members play golf alongside the mounds.
A trial was set to begin Tuesday to determine the amount the historical society must pay for the site, which is one of eight ancient areas in the Hopewell Earthworks system that was designated as a World Heritage Site last year.
The earthworks, built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago by the Hopewell Culture, were used for ceremonies that attracted people from across the continent. This is evident from archeological discoveries of raw materials originating from as far as the Rocky Mountains.
The Ohio History Connection, which owns the 2,000-year-old Octagon Earthworks in Newark, central Ohio, won a state Supreme Court decision a year and a half ago, allowing it to reclaim a lease held by the Moundbuilders Country Club. The historical society aims to transform the site into a public park.
The earthworks, constructed by Native Americans, include eight long earthen walls that align with lunar movements and correspond to points where the moon rises and sets over an 18.6-year lunar cycle. The Ohio History Connection describes the site as “part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory.”
Many tribes, some with historical ties to Ohio, want the earthworks preserved as examples of Indigenous peoples’ accomplishments. In 1892, Licking County voters approved a tax increase to preserve what remained of the earthworks. The area was developed into a golf course in 1911, and the state first leased the 134-acre property to Moundbuilders Country Club in the 1930s.
A county judge ruled in 2019 that the historical society can reclaim the lease through eminent domain. The country club challenged the attempt, arguing that the Ohio History Connection did not make a good faith offer to purchase the property as required by state law. The club also claimed to have provided proper upkeep of the mound and allowed public access over the years.
The country club suffered another legal setback when the trial court disallowed evidence it had hoped to present regarding the land’s value. The club appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, which declined jurisdiction.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.