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Angkor, in Cambodia; The Great Wall of China; Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the Pyramid Fields in Egypt; Chichen-Itza in Mexico; Stonehenge in Great Britain ... and now, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in southern Ohio. All are United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage sites, deemed among the human cultural and natural heritage sites that are "irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration."
The network of ancient Native American ceremonial and burial mounds is described as "part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory," and was presented to UNESCO for consideration by indigenous tribes -- many of whom have ancestral ties to Ohio -- and Ohio History Connection. They called the earthworks "masterpieces of human genius." Though the eight earthworks are spread over a wide area, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is in Chillicothe and the Newark Earthworks managed by Ohio History Connection are in Newark and Heath.
Ohioans should be proud of both the site and the effort put forth to earn its recognition.
Jennifer Aultman, chief historic sites officer at Ohio History Connection, told Architectural Digest, she hopes the designation will help attract more visitors to the state and educate tourists and residents alike about our state's indigenous heritage.
"That's really an incredible idea -- that there's something that all people, no matter where they grew up, that we should care about (it), because they help us understand what it means to be human," Aultman said.
As human beings, sites such as the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks link us across time and culture. They inspire awe and, we must hope, they inspire us to aim for the best of our humanity.
UNESCO's goals -- mobilizing education to transform lives, reconciling humanity with nature, fostering science and technology for humanity, and promoting inclusion and mutual understanding -- are served well by the inclusion of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, here in this state that calls itself the Heart of it All.