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Fort Ancient State memorial is a National treasure, listed as a National Historical Landmark, is operated by the Ohio Historical society, a non-profit organization who serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology, and natural history. Constructed over 2,000 years ago by prehistoric people during the Hopewell culture, Fort Ancient served as a place of ceremonial and social gatherings. The 3.5 miles of earthen walls were built from baskets of earth holding about 35 to 40 pounds of soil.
Today, this ancient monument is used as a place of education. Each year thousands of school children visit Fort Ancient on fieldtrips; thousands of people also visit annually as part of family vacations in an attempt to learn about Ohio’s rich prehistoric native heritage.
In 2005 The Ohio Historical Society received the Save America’s Treasure’s Grant for Fort Ancient; the only site selected in Ohio. This $250,000.00 matching grant will be used to provide much-needed repair to specific portions of the earthen walls and archaeological landscape that has been faced with erosion for nearly 75 years.
In order to provide clearance for the heavy machinery that would be required to go through the site archaeological investigations were conducted near the impact areas. Magnetic surveys were conducted which measures the magnetic north of the soil. When people move the soil as a result of earthwork construction the soil’s magnetic north shifts creating a different reading in the computer. This allows archaeologists to determine where soil has been disturbed both prehistorically and historically. What was uncovered will change the way Fort Ancient is viewed in the future.
Last fall a circular enclosure 200 feet in diameter was discovered that has remained unnoticed for 2,000 years. The Ohio Historical Society will be conducting additional research at the site this summer. Wright State University is in the process of working out an arrangement to conduct archaeological field school investigations at Fort Ancient this summer. Plans are also being made to consider creating an archaeological research station at Fort Ancient. Additional magnetic survey work has yielded five potential structures and numerous features that are intact below the surface. The long-term goal is to excavate portions of these structures and features with the intention of reconstructing the long lost features.
On Saturday, November 4th, 2006, The Ohio Historical Society is hosting the now annual fundraising event called “Soaring to New Heights”. The Ohio Historical Society is hoping to raise additional money to aid in the research potential of the site. Additional funding will be necessary to establish archaeological educational programs, radiocarbon dating to establish when the uncovered features were utilized, as well as marketing tools to ensure the public is properly informed including the proper documentation required for archaeological investigations.
I hope this is something you feel is important for our community and is worthy of your participation. The future of Fort Ancient has never looked so promising in terms of the potential for archaeological recovery and interpretation. The fundraising efforts at Fort Ancient will only grow with experience and knowledge.
If you would like to have a personal tour of the site and facility, please feel free to contact me at 800. 283-8904 or by e-mail at jblosser@ohiohistory.org .
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