We did it!! The Archaeological Conservancy successfully bid on Fortified Hill Earthwork in southwestern Ohio on September 28, 2019. The purchase price for the four tracts totaling 165 acres will be around $1.5 million. The Conservancy joined forces with two other conservation groups to bid on the property, and closing is scheduled for October 28^th. The Conservancy raised $400,000 in pledges thanks to generous donors.

Fortified Hill is one of six Hopewell Culture earthworks on a six mile stretch of the Great Miami River included on a map in Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, the first publication of the Smithsonian Institution in 1848. Today it is the only one of the six that survives, and it still preserves its distinctive and impressive gateways.

The Conservancy will receive an archaeological conservation easement over the property allowing us to own and manage the irreplaceable cultural resources and ensure the preservation of the site. Fortified Hill will eventually include trails, signage, and an informational kiosk to educate the public and future generations about this significant archaeological earthwork.