Entity: HOPEWELL
Hopewell refers to a city in E Virginia on the James River, as well as an early Native American culture centered in the Ohio River valley known for earthworks and burial mounds.
HOPEWELL
Etymology
The term 'Hopewell' likely originates from the name of a city in Eastern Virginia on the James River.
Definition
Hopewell can refer to a city in Eastern Virginia, situated on the James River. It can also denote an early Native American culture that thrived in the Ohio River valley from the second century BC to the fourth century AD. This culture is renowned for its construction of extensive earthworks, large conical burial mounds, and advanced arts and crafts.
Historical Context
The Hopewell culture, also known as the Hopewell tradition, was a network of precontact Native American cultures that flourished in settlements along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern Eastern Woodlands from 100 BCE to 500 CE, during the Middle Woodland period.
Cultural Significance
The Hopewell culture is significant for its complex earthworks, including geometric enclosures, mounds, and ceremonial spaces. These structures indicate a sophisticated social organization and a high level of artistic and technological achievement.
Related Concepts
The Hopewell culture is often associated with other ancient Native American cultures, such as the Adena culture and the Mississippian culture, due to shared artistic styles, trade networks, and ceremonial practices.
See Also
Hopewell can denote a city in Virginia or an ancient Native American culture known for its earthworks and burial mounds.