A pilgrimage that started Saturday near Chillicothe is on its way to Newark. Kevin Coleman was with the participants Sunday night...
About 35 walkers are doing their best to retrace the path of what many believe is a ceremonial road that connected two centers of prehistoric Native American earthworks: Newark and Chillicothe.
Dr. Richard Shiels, the Director of the OSU Newark Earthworks Center, has helped coordinate this "Walk With the Ancients," a week-long spiritual, archaeological, and historical pilgrimage to retrace the "Great Hopewell Road" using modern roadways.
It began Saturday during "Hopewell Discovery Day" at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, and ends Friday in time for the weekend's "Newark Earthworks Day." On Saturday will be programs and a festival , and on Sunday, open access to the earthworks themselves.
You can find much more at the Ohio State University - Newark Earthworks Center website, including the campsites and programs open to the public along the pilgrimage.
You can also learn more from Hopewell Culture National Historical Park...and Kevin Coleman, himself.
hear Dr. Richard Shiels, the Director of the OSU Newark Earthworks Center, describe the "Walk With the Ancients"
Other participants Sunday:
hear Hawk Goodfire, who works with Native American prophesy in Farmington, Pennsylvania. His website is Buffalo Messengers.
hear Karen Smith of the Fairfield County Historical Parks. She helped coordinate volunteer efforts with the pilgrimage
hear Vinnie Stanzione, a pilgrimage expert, especially in Mesoamerica, who was invited to walk in this event.
hear Bob Pond describe the multicultural aspects of the walk (with firesong in background). He suggested this trek from his Buckeye Trail experience.
hear Bob Williams with Fairfield County Parks describes the archaeological features at the Tarlton Cross park near Tarlton, Ohio.
hear Tommy Ellis, with the OSU Newark Earthworks Center and Central Ohio Technical College, describe the DVD he will be producing on the pilgrimage
Russ Johnson chose to hike the Great Hopewell Road instead of the Adirondacks
Ken Purdy is an archaeologist from Hamilton, Ohio who is exploring his field in a different way in the pilgrimage
(Photos below)
Ken Purdy and Bob Pond wait for transportation the rest of the way to the campsite.
An Amish buggy passes by pilgrims pausing in the "Walk With the Ancients"
Hawk Goodfire works with Native American prophesy in Farmington, Pennsylvania. He poses in the bridge at "Cross Mound" near Tarlton, Ohio.
Walkers visit "Cross Mound"
Drummers perform at the Sunday night camp for the "Walk With the Ancients"
© 2009
