Hopeton Trench

An archeological excavation trench shows red soil piled on yellow soil

NPS Photo/Mark J. Lynott

National Park Service archeologists carefully excavated a trench here in 2001 to reveal details of wall construction. The American Indian builders first stripped the topsoil to prepare a firm foundation, then built the earthen wall in two parts. The inward-facing surfaces were built using yellowish soils, then the outer face of the wall was built using a reddish clay. This pattern of soil selection and placement was repeated at several locations, including Newark’s Great Circle, 60 miles away.