Highbank Park Works, Archaeological site in Delaware County, Ohio, US
Highbank Park Works is an archaeological site in Delaware County featuring a semi-elliptical embankment divided into four sections that rise about 3 feet (1 m) high, bordered by a shallow ditch. The complex sits near the Olentangy River within a protected park area that visitors can explore on foot.
The earthwork was built between 800 and 1300 CE by the Cole culture, who settled along the Olentangy River in this region. This culture shaped central Ohio for centuries and left behind structures that remain visible today.
The site holds evidence of early settlement through pottery and stone tools discovered during excavation work in 1951. These objects tell us that people made this location their home and left traces of their daily lives behind.
The site is protected within a park and accessible through marked trails that let you view both the earthworks and the surrounding landscape. Plan for a leisurely walk and watch for the subtle ridges in the land, as they are easy to miss if you are not looking carefully.
About half a mile away stands Muma Mound, an earthwork from the Adena era that represents a different cultural tradition than the Cole structures here. These separate constructions show that multiple peoples used this river valley over many generations.
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