The author will recount the 30-year story of how this project came about—the vision for a curated, regional approach to Ohio’s brilliant American Indian earthworks—and describe how this book showcases southern Ohio’s rich and surprising layers of cultural heritage for both armchair and on-site travelers.

John E. Hancock taught architecture, design, and history at the University of Cincinnati for 40 years. He has produced many multimedia exhibits and publications on Ohio’s earthworks. John also served as the principal author and photographer for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage nomination, and for its public re-edition from Smithsonian Books (2026).