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For Immediate Release: February 23, 2007
Support Growing for World Heritage List Nominations
Ohio’s Fort Ancient, Newark Earthworks, Serpent Mound, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and SunWatch Village to be Considered
Public support for an effort to nominate several ancient sites in Ohio to the World Heritage List is gaining momentum following feedback from several public meetings and attention this week from the Ohio General Assembly.
SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park in Dayton was recently added to the sites being nominated, which include the Newark Earthworks in Licking County, the Fort Ancient Earthworks in Warren County, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Ross County and Serpent Mound in Adams County.
“It is very clear that broad public support exists in each of the communities where these sites are located,” said George Kane, director of facilities management for the Ohio Historical Society. “This is great news because demonstrating public support is critically important to the success of our nominations.”
State Rep. Danny Bubp (R-West Union) is one of several state legislators endorsing the concept. This week, Bubp will introduce a House resolution in support of the two serial nominations. State Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) is working on a Senate resolution. Schaffer’s district includes the Newark Earthworks and Bubp’s district is adjacent to Serpent Mound.
“Ohio is blessed to have preserved so many of these tremendous Native American earthworks throughout southern Ohio,” Bubp said. “We are confident that we have the evidence to suggest that all of these sites are internationally significant and deserving of being listed on the World Heritage List.”
Citizens wishing to express their support for these nominations are encouraged to visit http://www.ohiohistory.org/sn/120406.html. Letters of support may be submitted through March 15 to: George Kane, Director of Facilities Management, Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Avenue., Columbus OH 43211; or e-mail at worldheritagenominations@ohiohistory.org The final nomination packet will be submitted to the National Park Service prior to April 1.
Background about World Heritage List nomination
Thousands of years ago Native Americans now referred to as the Hopewell culture spent generations working to construct massive earthworks in Ohio that continue to impress modern-day archaeologists and tourists alike. The Hopewell sites were among the first to be preserved in the United States and also provided the foundations for the study of scientific archaeology in North America.
The World Heritage List, currently consisting of 830 sites in 138 countries, is maintained by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Only 20 sites on the World Heritage List are in the United States, none of which are located in Ohio.
The Ohio Historical Society, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park are working in partnership to submit two serial nominations to the NPS to have the sites put onto the NPS World Heritage Tentative List. If chosen, the sites would eventually become the first in Ohio on the World Heritage List.
Nomination to the World Heritage List does not change local, state or national control or administration of the sites. The primary effect is to honor significant natural and historical sites as well as encourage the public sector and property owners to preserve sites that have worldwide significance.
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Media contact: Michael Ring: 614.297.2313 or mring@ohiohistory.org
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