Prehistoric Earthworks and Mounds of Licking County

Licking County has a large number of surviving earthworks and mounds built by Native Americans in the centuries, and even millennia, before the arrival of Europeans to North America. Hopewell, Adena and Fort Ancient cultures have left a lasting mark in the region. These sites were constructed with ingenuity and a deep understanding of mathematics, engineering and astronomy. Though many structures have been lost over the last two centuries, some of the most spectacular sites, such as the Great Circle Earthworks, remain. Take the Licking County Library’s driving tour of the earthworks and mounds that are publically accessible in the county and learn more about the area’s prehistory and cultural heritage.

The first part of the tour centers around the Newark Earthworks while the second half explores the county more broadly. The second half requires walking and hiking to reach prehistoric sites.