Lecture Series: Watching the Moon, the View from Newark

Join us at the Octagon Earthworks Visitor Center on the third Thursday of each month as we welcome experts from multiple fields speaking on topics connected to how we understand and learn about Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks; from archaeological and indigenous perspectives to stories about how Earthworks have been preserved and protected.

This program is geared toward adults (ages 18+) although we encourage high schoolers to attend as well. The program will consist of a 45-minute talk given by an expert and a 15-minute question-and-answer session. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, the lecture will begin promptly at 7 p.m.

October 15: Watching the Moon, the View from Newark

Join Physicist Bob Neinast as he discusses what the Indigenous Peoples in the Newark Valley were seeing the sun and the moon doing. He will de-emphasize the details of the astronomy while concentrating on the repeated patterns those Peoples were taking note of, and which led to their designing and creating the Newark Earthworks. He will also introduce some features that may have made the valley an especially sacred spot to those in the area.

Bob first became involved with the Newark Earthworks when he participated in the first “Walk with the Ancients” in 2009, a pilgrimage from Chillicothe to Newark, which followed as best as possible the path of the much-discussed Great Hopewell Road. From there, he got interested in the phenomena associated with this aspect of the florescence of the Hopewell Culture nearly 2000 years ago.

Follow us on social media to learn about our speakers:

Newark Earthworks Facebook
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Facebook