Ruby: Seip Earthworks to be nominated to the World Heritage List
Bret Ruby
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One of the wonders of the ancient world lies just 12 miles west of Chillicothe, Ohio. Seip Earthworks is one of five monumental American Indian earthwork complexes included in Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. These National Park sites are being nominated to the World Heritage List as “Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks” alongside three other earthworks managed by the Ohio History Connection: the Octagon Earthworks and the Great Circle in Licking County; and the Fort Ancient Earthworks in Warren County.
There are only 24 World Heritage Sites in the United States, and just over 1,000 in the world. The international community recognizes these as places of such outstanding universal value that all of humanity has a stake in their preservation. The United States was the first nation to propose the idea of an international treaty to protect globally significant natural and cultural heritage sites. This idea came to life in 1972 when the United States was the first nation to ratify the World Heritage Convention. This was the 100th anniversary of Yellowstone becoming the world’s first national park. This was no coincidence: the World Heritage List was designed as an international version of America’s national park idea.