Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: An Evening with John E. Hancock

Join John E. Hancock, the principal author and photographer for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage nomination, to celebrate the release of his two new books: Traveler's Guide to Ancient Ohio and Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks!

About Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Experience 8 sacred earthworks of the ancient Hopewell culture with this breathtaking book featuring 250+ images and fascinating insights on Native American history.

Between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, Native American communities built monumental earthen enclosure complexes in Ohio. They are the largest geometrically shaped earthworks in the world. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a gorgeous tribute to eight of these architectural masterpieces, featuring more than 250 images that capture their breathtaking scope, beauty, and precision. These ceremonial sites align with Sun and Moon cycles and reveal the vision and genius of their designers making connections to the cosmos.

In 2023, UNESCO added the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks to their World Heritage list—only the 25th US site with that honor. This celebratory volume brings together:

• Histories of the sites
• 14 maps and more than 250 photographs
• Summaries of the latest archaeological research
• Indigenous perspectives from tribal leaders, scholars, and artists
• Fresh insights on the beauty and brilliance of the earthworks

Fort Ancient, Octagon Earthworks, Great Circle Earthwork, Mound City, Hopewell Mound Group, Hopeton Earthworks, High Bank Works, and Seip Earthworks make up the eight impressive sites. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a worthy celebration of their scale, precision, and artistry, as well as the history and culture behind them.

About Traveler’s Guide to Ancient Ohio

Traveler’s Guide to Ancient Ohio is a compact, richly illustrated, and in-depth travel guide to the Indigenous earthwork wonders of southern Ohio—some of the most extraordinary ancient monuments in North America. Featuring the eight newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage sites, this is the first publication to present these places from a traveler’s perspective, offering deeply informative site descriptions alongside curated routes to historical, scenic, and natural treasures across the region.

6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public. Registration required.

Copies of both books will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.

About John E. Hancock

John E. Hancock taught architecture, design, and history at the University of Cincinnati for 40 years. He has produced many multimedia exhibits and publications on Ohio’s earthworks, and served as the principal author and photographer for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage nomination, and for its public reissue by Smithsonian Books (2026).