Hopewell Archaeology and Archaeoastronomy: Research at the High Bank Earthworks 2000

Research at the High Bank Earthworks

Christopher S. Turner

2000

There is no text to this article. There are a few photographs and a data table. The High Bank earthworks is located a few miles southeast of Chillicothe, Ohio. It has two large enclosures, an irregular octagon and a connected circle. Hively and Horn treated the analysis of the calendrical sightlines at this earthwork in 1984. The data table herein is a similar effort made to recalculate the sightlines, and to compare the results to the Hively and Horn data. The nomenclature for the backsights and foresights is based on the Middleton/Fowke data from Thomas (1889, 1894). As usual, I calculated the various horizon heights for each sightline using USGS topographic maps. Values for solstice declinations, refraction, and semi-diameter are from appropriate tables. See Turner (1983 and 2000) for the method used.

These data were presented as:

2001 Maps, Landscapes, and Sunrises: Archaeoastronomy at High Bank, Ross County, Ohio. Paper presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Midwest Archaeological Society, La Crosse, WI.

The photographs were taken at the earthworks at solstice in December 2000 by the author.

The author grants permission to reproduce text, tables, maps, or images included herein, provided that the author is cited as Turner, Christopher S., year of article, name of article, conference event and date if applicable to paper, page, and source, and provided that use of any text, tables, maps, or images included herein is for non-commercial, academic purposes.

A Comparative Analysis of the High Bank Calendrical Sightlines suggested by Hively and Horn (1984)

Stations	A°	A	h°	H	d°	d
10 to 3	53.4	53.6	1.13	0.97	+28.9	+28.6
1 to 2	60.1	60.1	1.12	0.90	+23.4	+23.2
13 to 2	122.2	122.5	0.65	0.58	-24.0	-24.3
13 to 4	130.7	130.8	0.65	0.60	-29.3	-29.4
11 to 5	116.0	116.1	0.55	0.35	-19.0	-19.2
4 to 9	243.3	243.6	0.71	0.43	-19.4	-19.4
8 to 9	306.4	306.4	0.50	0.44	+28.2	+28.2
4 to 16	300.1	299.7	0.49	0.46	+23.0	+22.7
2 to 17	238.5	238.6	0.67	0.72	-23.5	-23.4
5a to 11a	294.0	293.9	0.55	0.49	+19.2	+19.0
2 to 11a	229.5	230.2	1.12	1.00	-28.8	-28.4

0.2°

0.08°

0.1

The data shown are Hively and Horn’s results paired with my own for the same sightlines. Figures shown are for azimuths, horizon heights in degrees, and resultant declinations. Bottom row indicates mean differences between our results for each column.

Hively and Horn’s suggested winter solstice set sightline, 2-17 (see above diagram from Hively & Horn 1984). Below are photographs for that sightline, and on the next page for sightline 2-16. These photographs show that the correct alignment for the winter solstice sunset is 2-16.

Not shown is the winter solstice morning event. This is according to the data in Hively/Horn 1984 survey station 13 to 2.

It was relatively easy to establish these foresight and backsight points. This is due to the well preserved condition of the earthwork. Gateway 2 is very visible. Gateway 5 (the southern end of the earthwork axis) is also obvious. There is some ambiguity in the location of survey station 17. Work by both Orrin Shane and N’omi Greber et al was in this area of the earthwork. Fortunately, we have the Thomas and especially the Holmes map. Because point 17 is near the road, this helps to define its location. The width of the avenue can be measured on the Holmes map with what I find to be a high degree of accuracy, this when compared to like measures in the Thomas map and with plats by James Marshall. Since point 16 is well defined (one of the highest sections of earthwork wall at High Bank), it gives a good reference measuring point to establish point 17. I am confident of the placements of these foresights and backsights to plus/minus 3 feet in any direction.

These shots were taken in December 2000.