Description
“The Hopewell Culture was contemporaneous with the end of the Adena culture, but the Adena people tended to be considerably larger than the Hopewell. Remains of men seven feet tall were common among the Adena, while Hopewell were robust, their males averaged closer to six feet in height. There are four types of earthworks that were constructed by the ancient Hopewell civilization.
- Defensive Enclosure Mounds
- Burial Mounds
- Effigy (Shaped) Mounds
- Ceremonial and Temple Mounds
“Mounds were used chiefly as burial places but also as elevated foundations for special structures such as temples (Marietta, OH), hill top enclosures (Fort Ancient, OH), as totemic representations (Serpent Mound in Ohio), and ceremonial space and structures, (The great Circle/Octagon complex, Newark, OH). In size they vary from less than one acre in area to more than 100 acres. Over 200,000 earthworks dotted America’s Heartland.” The Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland page 102 by Rodney Meldrum
5 Important Similarities
- The Hopewell Culture describes the common aspects of the Native American culture that flourished along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern United States from 300 BC to 400 AD, in the Middle Woodland period. The Hopewell tradition was not a single culture or society, but a widely dispersed set of related populations. They were connected by a network of trade routes, known as the Hopewell Exchange System.
Serpent Mound, Ohio - At its greatest extent, the Hopewell Exchange System ran from the Southeastern United States as far south as the Crystal River Indian Mounds into the southeastern Canadian shores of Lake Ontario up north. Within this area societies participated in a high degree of exchange with the highest amount of activity along waterways. The Hopewell Exchange System included copper from the Great Lakes, mica from the Carolinas, obsidian from the Rocky Mountains, and shells from the Gulf Coast. These people then converted the materials into products and exported them through local and regional exchange networks. Although the origins of the Hopewell are still under discussion, the Hopewell culture can also be considered a cultural climax, ending suddenly in about 400 AD.
- Hopewell populations originated in western New York and moved south into Ohio where they built on top of the local Adena mortuary tradition. Hopewell was also said to have originated in western Illinois and spread by diffusion … to southern Ohio. Similarly, the Havana Hopewell tradition was thought to have spread up the Illinois River and into southwestern Michigan, spawning Goodall Hopewell.
- The name “Hopewell” was applied by Warren K. Moorehead after his explorations of the Hopewell Mound Group in Ross County, Ohio in 1891 and 1892. The mound group itself was named for the family that owned the earthworks at the time.
Purchase Here: - The Hopewell location in the Mississippi Valley, plains of Illinois, and Indiana and locations in Ohio match up with the location of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. The time period also shows a great correlation, especially as both the Hopewell and Nephite civilization abruptly ended in about 400 AD. Rod Meldrum Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland.
A list of earthworks was compiled to aid in the construction of archaeological maps for the general report and was then published in 1891 as Bulletin 12 of the Bureau of American Ethnology, “Catalogue of Prehistoric Works East of the Rocky Mountains” by Cyrus Thomas. This list, along with information from additional fieldwork, formed the basis for the construction of this map.
Thousands of United States Ancient Earthworks
(Picture Right) A list of earthworks was compiled to aid in the construction of archaeological maps for the general report and was then published in 1891 as Bulletin 12 of the Bureau of American Ethnology, “Catalogue of Prehistoric Works East of the Rocky Mountains” by Cyrus Thomas. This list, along with information from additional fieldwork, formed the basis for the construction of this map.
There is a temple mound situated above the Ohio River near Cincinnati. “Fragments of burnt limestone may still be seen on the top. The mound is a rectangle two hundred and twenty-five feet long by one hundred and twenty feet broad, and seven feet high.” In contrast to the hewn stone buildings and altars of Mexico, the Ohio mound has the right dimensions to have accommodated a timber and burnt lime plaster (“cement”) building of the size and proportions of Solomon’s Temple.” J. P. Maclean, The Mound Builders – Archaeology of Butler County, Ohio, 1904, pp. 222-223.
“Few realize that some of the oldest, largest and most complex structures of ancient archaeology were built of earth, clay, and stone right here in America, in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. From 6,000 years ago until quite recently, North America was home to some of the most highly advanced and well organized civilizations in the world – complete with cities, roads, and commerce.” Dr. Roger Kennedy, former director of the Smithsonian’s American History Museum.
“The painting (Left) book [Page 129 in Annotated book of Mormon], by Kendra Burton titled, “Christ Visits the Nephites in America’s Heartland”, shows Christ descending in a shaft of light to visit multitudes of Nephites who are streaming up a ramped earthen platform mound reminiscent of other earthen monuments made by the civilization now known as the Hopewell Mound Builders. The background is a vast plain with interspersed massive grass-covered mounds, wooden homes with thatched roofs and hardwood forests, while the foreground shows a large wooden temple atop a monumental ramped earth structure. The scene is one that is true to the Book of Mormon record, without stone pyramids or thick jungle vegetation since nowhere in the text is there any mention of stone buildings, palm trees, monkeys or a tropical climate.” Rodney Meldrum
(Picture Right) Hopewell timber house at Angel Mounds State Historic Site, located on the Ohio River in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Indiana.
The Heartland geography research has overwhelmingly demonstrated through Book of Mormon prophesies, Joseph Smith’s writings, DNA, archaeological, linguistic and cultural evidences that the most likely location for the setting of the Book of Mormon was in America’s Heartland. This painting is consistent with Joseph Smith’s known and historically documented statements and actions in such accounts as the those found in D&C 28, 30, and 32, the Wentworth Letter, the American Revivalist account, the Zelph accounts, Joseph’s hand-written letter to his wife while on Zion’s camp, and many additional sources.” Rod Meldrum, Author “Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland”
Contrasting the works of the mound builders with Mesoamerica stone ruins, Hugh Nibley observes: “A closer approximation to the Book of Mormon picture of Nephite culture is seen in the earth and palisade structures of the Hopewell and Adena culture areas than in the later stately piles of stone in Mesoamerica… Though such piles as the great pyramid-temple of Chichen Itza are surpassed by few buildings in the world in beauty of proportion and grandeur of conception, there is something disturbing about most of these overpowering ruins… The great monuments do not represent what the Nephites stood for; rather they stand for what their descendants, mixed with the blood of their brethren, descended to…” Hugh Nibley, The Prophetic Book of Mormon, pp. 272-273
THE HOPEWELL CIVILIZATION: 50 CORRELATIONS WITH THE BOOK OF MORMON
1. Both were from Semitic (Caucasian/Jewish) lineages evidenced in the Hopewell by Haplogroup X DNA
2. Both were in the same archaeological time-frame (500 B.C. to 400 A.D.)
3. Both were highly advanced civilizations, indicated by size, scope, language, archaeological remains and artifacts
4. Both the Hopewell and Nephites were in the same areas indicated by Joseph Smith’s revelations,
writings, statements, and actions such as:
▪ The visitation by Moroni testified of in the Wentworth Letter (pp. 550-553)
▪ The vision Joseph Smith had in Illinois regarding Zelph while on Zion’s Camp (pp. 321, 524)
▪ The three revelations sending missionaries to the “Lamanites” (D&C 28, 30, 32; p. 116)
▪ The revelations revealing the location of the New Jerusalem in Missouri, USA (D&C 42, 45,
84; p. 485)
▪ The revelation claiming Missouri to be “the land of promise” (D&C 57:1-2; pp. xii, xiii and 414)
▪ Scriptural linking of Book of Mormon lands with the lands of the New Jerusalem
(3 Nephi 20:22; 21:22-23; Ether 13:2-6; pp. 485, 506, 524)
▪ The revelation about the city of Zarahemla in Iowa (D&C 125:3; p. 127, 528-529)
▪ Joseph’s Letter to Emma saying that he was “wandering over the plains of the Nephites”
while “roving over the mounds of that once beloved people” (p. 320, 524)
▪ Joseph Smith speaking of a Nephite altar at Adam-ondi-Ahman in Missouri (p. 486)
▪ Joseph’s claim of the ancient City of Manti near Huntsville, Missouri (p. 329 footnote; p. 524)
5. Both built defensive cities, “places of retreat” and fortifications (Alma 49:11-12)
6. Both built cities with ditch’s, earth banks, pickets of timbers and towers (Alma 50:2-4; Alma 53:4,
Mosiah 11:12-13; pp. 303, 307, 311)
7. Both built cities with engineered ‘places of entrance’ (Alma 49:4, 20-21; p. 307)
8. Both built protective walls of stone, but no cities were built using stone (Alma 48:8; pp. 287, 303)
9. Both were in the boundaries of the Promised Land that the 36 prophecies and promises in the Book of Mormon identify as the latter day nation known as the United States of America (pp. 510-511)
10. Both had a major or primary river system within their lands (River Sidon; Mississippi River; pp. 202-203)
11. Both lived in a region where earthquakes occur rarely as recorded only twice in the Book of
Mormon’s 1,000 year history (1 Nephi 12:4; Mormon 8:30; p. 396)
12. Both lived in an area where earthquakes would cause massive destruction that matches every
description in the Book of Mormon record (3 Nephi 8-11; p. 395)
13. Both had people who were “large in stature” as in 1 Nephi 2:16; 4:31; Alma 1:2; 46:3,
Helaman 1:15; Mormon 2:1; Ether 1:34; 14:10 and 15:26 (pp. 116, 309, 344, 362)
14. Both used metal breastplates and headplates (Alma 46:13; Alma 43:38,44; Helaman 1:14)
15. Both possessed a written Hebrew or Egyptian language, evidenced by engraved stones and metal plates
16. Both used lunar time reckoning as indicated by archaeology (p. 130) and Omni 1:21, which was
also the timing system used by the Jews (3 Nephi 2:8)
17. Both used wood and dirt as their primary building materials (Mosiah 11:8-10, Jarom 1:8; 2 Nephi 5:15)
18. Both used “cement” such as “Hopewell cement” found at Mound City and Fort Ancient, Ohio
(Helaman 3:7, 9; pp. 349, 383)
19. Both performed “digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities” (Alma 50:1)
20. Both utilized metals such as copper, iron and silver (1 Ne. 18:25; Mosiah 11:3, 8, 10; 8:10; Ether 10:23)
21. Both knew metallurgy and practiced smelting of metals as evidenced by smelting furnaces (p. 124)
22. Both had iron or steel swords (2 Nephi 5:15, Jarom 1:8, Ether 7:9; p. 162)
23. Both were in the same lands indicated by the Lord in D&C 54:8 near Missouri (p. 485)
24. The Hill Cumorah in New York, USA matches the descriptions in the Book of Mormon (p. 441)
25. Both were in New York, USA area where the gold plates were actually recovered (pp. 116, 547)
26. Both built ceremonial temples and they were devoid of burial crypts (pp. 63-64)
27. Both knew “seasons” because it was “the nature of the climate” (Mosiah 18:4; Alma 46:40)
28. Both lived in an area where “whirlwinds” and “tempests” or tornados and hurricanes occur (p. 353)
29. Both civilizations deforested their lands (Helaman 3:5-7, 9-10)
30. Both civilizations were agricultural and “tilled the ground” (Mosiah 23:5, 31; 10:4, 21; Alma 62:29)
31. Both civilizations utilized corn, barley and wheat (Mosiah 7:22; 9:9, 14)
32. Both had broad trading networks and commerce (Mosiah 24:7)
33. Both made colorized textiles for clothing (1 Nephi 13:7-8; Mosiah 10:5; Ether 10:24)
34. Both had “heavy clothing” and “loincloths” (Enos 1:20; Alma 43:19; 49:6; 3 Nephi 4:7)
35. Both had goats or herds as indicated by copper goat horns of the Hopewell (1 Nephi 18:25; Enos 1:21)
36. Both had mass burials resulting from wars of extermination (Mosiah 9:19, Alma 30:1-2; Ether 14:22)
37. Distances and rate of travel indications correlate with Book of Mormon journeys (Zion’s Camp, p. 526)
38. Both had high concentrations of war implements to defend themselves (Enos 1:20; Alma 24: 17-19)
39. Ancient horse bones and pictograph found in North America (1 Ne. 18:25; Enos 1:21; Alma 18: 9; p. 37)
40. Both built a city in a “particular manner” that was different than all their other cities (Alma 50:15; p. 558)
41. Both built roads between primary cities (i.e. Great Hopewell Road p. 389)
42. Both had and used pearls and other ornamental items in their dress (4 Nephi 1:24, pp. 429-430)
43. Both had access to migratory beasts, i.e. Buffalo, Elk (Alma 22:31; p. 246; Ether 9:34–Jaredites)
44. Both indicate a knowledge of elephants (Ether 9:19; pp. 473-474; (Adena) Jaredites)
45. Both were familiar with vultures as indicated by Hopewell effigies (Mosiah 12:2, Alma 2:38; p. 166)
46. Both had an understanding of the “Plan of Salvation” of the gospel (Jarom 1: 2; Alma 24:14; p. 250)
47. Both utilized Hebrew above-ground burial practices (Hebrew Sepulchre’s and Hopewell burial
mounds. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives_Jewish_Cemetery)
48. Both had clothing that included fringes, as directed by the Lord (Numbers 15:38; p. 146)
49. Both knew about the Ten Commandments of Moses (2 Nephi 5:10; Decalogue Stone, p. 545)
50. Both had dogs and wild beasts (wolves) that devoured the flesh (Mosiah 12:2; Alma 5: 59; Alma
16:10; Helaman 7:19; p. 166
50 Correlations with the Book of Mormon Page 539 Annotated Book of Mormon by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum. Purchase here
(Picture Right) The Mound City Group is a large Hopewell culture ceremonial center located along the Scioto River in Ross County, Ohio. This culture has been dated from~100 B.C. to 500 A.D.
Purchase Visualizing the Book of Mormon, and The Hinterland Hypothesis below,
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As you read the Book of Mormon, do you ever wonder what the landscapes traveled by Nephi, Mormon and Moroni might have looked like? Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could follow the entire history of the Nephite saga, it’s chronology, from Lehi’s arrival on the shores of the Promised Land to Nephi’s journey up into the wilderness to lead his people in righteousness? Or from Alma’s departure out of the Land of Nephi to the land of Helam and onward to the great city of Zarahemla? Or traverse the ‘plains of the Nephites’ between Zarahemla and the Land Bountiful to visit the sacred temple where the Savior appeared two thousand years ago to the righteous Nephites? What if you could stand atop the actual hill Cumorah from which Mormon and Moroni witnessed hordes of Lamanite warriors as they brought about the final destruction of their people? Join Book of Mormon scholar and best-selling author Rod Meldrum for the adventure of a lifetime as he takes you on an inspirational visual journey of discovery following the course of the Nephite nation from their humble beginnings in the Land of First Inheritance, to the rise of Zarahemla in their Heartland, and on to their prideful destruction at Cumorah. Using the latest research and aerial video drone technologies, you’ll be able to visualize, like never before, the sacred lands of the Book of Mormon, as well as what happened to the Lamanites following the Nephite extermination. You’ll have, for the first time ever, an eagle’s eye view of the Mississippian ceremonial complexes of Georgia, the enigmatic Serpent Mound in Ohio, visually stunning photographs and video of sacred temples and Church History sites as you discover the hidden beauty of this sacred Promised Land of America – the stunningly beautiful lands of the Book of Mormon!
Genome Analysis Links Kennewick Man to Native Americans
Ancient DNA sequenced from the skeleton adds to the controversy over the individual’s ancestry
By Helen Thompson SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
JUNE 18, 2015
For about 9,000 years, his bones lay entombed in earth, an unknown record of early life in the Americas. But since a chance find in the 1990s, the remains have been at the nexus of a scientific and political firestorm over the ancestry of this ancient individual. Now, the first genome analysis of Kennewick Man, or “the wise one”, is adding fresh fuel to the flame.
Contrary to previous results based on the size and shape of the skeleton, the DNA analysis, published today in Nature, suggests that Kennewick Man is more closely related to modern Native Americans than any other population of modern humans. While the researchers were not able to link the skeleton to a specific contemporary Native American group, the study could have implications for the fierce debate over who should be its modern caretakers.
“We will never be able to say what population, what individual in the Americas, is most closely related to [Kennewick Man] simply because most Native Americans haven’t been sequenced,” says Eske Willerslev, a geneticist at the University of Copenhagen and a co-author on the study. “What we can say is that Kennewick Man is more closely related to some Native American groups than others.”
The modern saga of Kennewick Man began in 1996, when college students stumbled upon some bones along the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington, and called the police. Radiocarbon dating put the skeleton at about 9,000 years old. The remains consist of roughly 300 bone fragments, making it one of the most complete ancient skeletons unearthed in the Americas.
Because the bones were discovered on federal land, they fell into the hands of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When five tribes from the area claimed Kennewick Man as their ancestor and called for his return and reburial under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the corps was inclined to grant their request. Once reburied, the skeleton would no longer be available for scientific study.
However, early analysis suggested that the bones might be anatomically different from those of modern Native Americans, in which case NAGPRA might not apply. The results sparked an eight-year-long legal conflict between a group of scientists who wanted to study Kennewick Man, the tribes and the corps. In 2004, a court ruled in favor of the scientists.
