Pollock Works Earthworks
Pollock Enclosure · Scioto Pollock Works
Middle Woodland Hopewell (200 BCE–300 CE)·Hopewell·🇺🇸 Ohio, Ross County, United States
About
About Pollock Works Earthworks
Hopewell enclosure pair on Scioto River terrace 9 km southwest of Chillicothe: large sub-square 160×140 m (3 ha) with 1.2 m embankment and interior ditch, conjoined at corner to 80 m diameter circle via narrow gateway; 45 m graded causeway extends south to Paint Creek embankment. Embankment profile preserved under pasture, ditches visible on LiDAR; charcoal from bank base 180±60 BCE–80 CE. Part of Paint Creek ceremonial district together with Seip and Baum Works; not publicly interpreted, on private farm but visible from Pollock Hill Rd.
Why it mattersBest-preserved Scioto secondary enclosure; demonstrates Hopewell modular square-circle pairing outside major centers.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Causeway orientation to Paint Creek vs solar azimuth
- 02Whether square held wooden mortuary house
Theories
- 01Lineage compound within Hopewell ritual-political network
- 02Outlier shrine of Seip community
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.100 BCE–150 CE
- Period
- Middle Woodland Hopewell (200 BCE–300 CE)
- Culture
- Hopewell
- Purpose
- Ceremonial enclosure and mortuary precinct
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.100 BCE–150 CE
Initial construction
c. 1136 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
Gallery