Fort Ancient

Today I visited Fort Ancient, a hilltop enclosure built by people of the Hopewell Culture about 2000 years ago.  It and the surrounding area were later occupied by another Native American culture.  Since this later culture was previously unknown to archaeologists, they named it after Fort Ancient.  Today, Ohio Route 350 passes through the north end of the site.

This mound is called a "calendar mound" because lines of sight extending from it pass through gaps between mounds in the distance which indicate the directions of the summer solstice and the major and minor lunar standstills.  Ohio 350 is in the background.

This next mound, located next to the visitor center's parking lot is also called a "calendar mound", but I didn't see any indication of lines of sight extending from it.

A short trail leads to a mound that is covered with stones.  I don't know if the stones are original to the mound or were replaced by new ones.

The site's main road, which extends southward from the visitor center and Ohio 350, passes through two crescent-shaped mounds.  This one is on the west side of the road, and has several trees growing out of it.

The other crescent-shaped mound, on the east side of the road, also includes some trees.

Near the crescent-shaped mounds is this stone circle on the ground.

You must stop before you drive through the Great Gateway.

From the south end of the site's main road, a short trail leads to the North Overlook.  The bridge in the distance is most likely Interstate 71 and the same bridge that I saw on Monday while hiking on the Little Miami Scenic Trail.  A trail called Eagles Trail leads from the overlook down to the LMST.  A few trees are in the foreground.

To learn more about Fort Ancient and its namesake culture, go to Ohio History Connection, Ancient Ohio Trail, the eponymous blog of Sarahmarie Specht-Bird, Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and The Moundbuilders' Art.