Earlham College | News from Public Affairs

RICHMOND, Ind. — For roughly 200 years, the purpose of mammoth earthen embankments raised by ancient Native Americans near present-day Newark, Ohio, escaped the understanding of emigrating European settlers — who arrived in numbers in the region during the early 1800s — and their descendants. At least some conjectured the structures were fortifications of some sort. Others assumed them to be traditional, if enormous, Native American burial mounds.

Holder of a Harvard Ph.D. in theoretical physics, Earlham Professor of Astronomy and Physics Ray Hively enlists the help of a student for the famous “spinning stool” demonstration of angular momentum, one of the basic components of the general physics courses he has taught at Earlham since 1972.

In 1982, however, after intensive investigations at the site, Earlham College professors Ray Hively and Robert Horn announced their discovery that the Newark Earthworks actually make up a gargantuan astronomical observatory, one on par in terms of its scale and sophistication with its by far more famous Stone Age counterpart, Stonehenge, in England.

Specifically, the Harvard-trained physicist-astronomer Hively and retired research philosopher Horn (Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary) together determined that an octagonal section of the earthworks are precisely aligned for sighting the four moonrises and four moonsets that mark the limits of a complicated lunar cycle that extends every 18.6 years. In part because of Hively and Horn’s findings, Cambridge University archeologist Chris Scarre included the Newark Earthworks in his 1999 book chronicling the Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World. They are one of only three ancient wonders listed for the United States.

As it happens, this coming fall the moon will reach its northernmost point of ascent in its recurring “once-a-generation” cycle, an alignment that corresponds to the main axis of the Octagon Earthworks. The best time to witness this event, according to OctagonMoonrise.org, will be during the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22. For the first time, members of the public will have that opportunity.

Because for much of its recent history the Octagon Earthworks have been the site, as well, of the Moundbuilders Country Club (MCC) golf course, access to the ancient observatory generally has come only by way of special arrangements between MCC and the Ohio Historical Society (OHS), which manages — as the Newark Earthworks State Memorial — the other remaining portions of what once were the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world.

Hively became interested in archaeoastronomy — the study of the tools and techniques used by ancient peoples to examine the heavens — after co-teaching a course in the history of cosmology with Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Robert Horn. The two later collaborated on research that revealed the true nature of Ohio’s Newark Earthworks as a giant lunar observatory.

In recognition of the special celestial circumstances surrounding Oct. 22, however, a coalition of educational institutions has agreed to provide funding, programming and public transportation to MCC for what has been officially designated Newark Earthworks Day 2005. The coalition includes Earlham’s fellow Great Lakes Colleges Association member Denison University of Granville, Ohio, as well as The Ohio State University Newark, the Multicultural Center of The Ohio State University in Columbus, and the OHS.

Anticipating the special day’s program of speakers and presenters, including Native Americans, archeologist, artists, historians, folklorists, interpretive dancers, students and the public, OSU-Newark Dean Bill McDonald says, “We are pleased that everyone recognizes the historical significance of what we have right here in our own backyard. The educational and scientific value of the Newark Earthworks is well documented … and this once-every-generation lunar occurrence presents the opportunity to celebrate at a very rare and unique site.”

Also in anticipation of the upcoming Octagon moonrise, Hively and Horn recently were asked to share some of their scientific insights on the Newark Earthworks during the May 5 broadcast of Open Line with Fred Andrle on WOSU-FM, the National Public Radio affiliate of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Earlier this year, Hively and Horn also received notice for their discovery from curators at the Art Institute of Chicago, who have assembled a new exhibit of ancient American Indian art, including a map depicting the layout of the Newark Earthworks. After its debut at the Art Institute, the exhibit titled "Hero, Hawk and Open Hand: American Indian Art of the Ancient Midwest and South" moved on to its current three-month run (ending May 30) at the St. Louis Art Museum. It also is scheduled to appear from late July until late September at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Contact:
Kevin Burke, director of media relations
765/983-1323 — E-Mail Kevin