Last updated: May 4, 2020
Article
Travel or Trade?
![Canoes on the Water Silhouette images of canoes with people in them](/articles/images/Canoes.png)
NPS / Tom Engberg
The Hopewell created artifacts from beautiful materials that were not local to the region. These raw materials were expertly carved and molded into shapes of a variety of animals, humans and dozens of other forms that are reflected in the natural environment. The artifacts were discovered under the mounds within geometric earthworks by archeologists. We know the location of the raw materials, and we know where the finished product was placed by the people. But how did the material make it to Ohio? In these activities, you are going to determine how people from the Hopewell culture obtained these exotic raw materials. Did they travel, trade or both 2,000 years ago?
Activity 1
For this first activity, draw a line from the picture of each artifact to its source location on the map of North America. When you finish, scroll down to find out where each item came from by sliding the slider in each photo to the left. You'll find the second activity after the last slider.
![Travel or Trade Map Outline of the United States with five exotic materials placed around the outline](/articles/images/AmericaOutline.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS / Tom Engberg
Obsidian
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5F999A7F-AF96-D9B1-2D8B022F28591E2E/5F999A7F-AF96-D9B1-2D8B022F28591E2E.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5AA948FE-CB1E-B55F-053A242075D8A8B2/5AA948FE-CB1E-B55F-053A242075D8A8B2.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Obsidian and its source location.
Right image
The Ohio Hopewell core area in yellow over present day Ohio and surrounding states.
Credit: NPS / Tom Engberg - NASA
Mica
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5FA3FD1C-E057-9804-D94D60AA7996A22A/5FA3FD1C-E057-9804-D94D60AA7996A22A.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5B11ECF4-A73A-3BD9-67616952B9892E83/5B11ECF4-A73A-3BD9-67616952B9892E83.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Mica and its source location.
Right image
The Ohio Hopewell core area in yellow over present day Ohio and surrounding states.
Credit: NPS / Tom Engberg - NASA
Copper
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5FB5A778-C420-16C3-1412950A324B7EEE/5FB5A778-C420-16C3-1412950A324B7EEE.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/5C7471CF-BAA7-956F-5BDA488CE912CDBE/5C7471CF-BAA7-956F-5BDA488CE912CDBE.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Copper and its source location.
Right image
The Ohio Hopewell core area in yellow over present day Ohio and surrounding states.
Credit: NPS / Tom Engberg - NASA
Whelk Shells
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/641C4081-EB61-D9DC-6E6A70EDB0023EE5/641C4081-EB61-D9DC-6E6A70EDB0023EE5.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/641E9A41-A174-88C8-6799E6C71A92C293/641E9A41-A174-88C8-6799E6C71A92C293.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Whelk Shells and its source location.
Right image
The Ohio Hopewell core area in yellow over present day Ohio and surrounding states.
Credit: NPS / Tom Engberg - NASA
Shark Teeth
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/63FBEC29-DAF1-73A8-D358531861E94AEB/63FBEC29-DAF1-73A8-D358531861E94AEB.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Left side reveals a grass covered group of mounds near a concrete patio, right photo shows eastern half of United States image from space](/common/upload/nri/20200417/articles/63FE1B40-0EEE-CA39-B44F148521CBEFFA/63FE1B40-0EEE-CA39-B44F148521CBEFFA.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Shark Teeth and its source location.
Right image
The Ohio Hopewell core area in yellow over present day Ohio and surrounding states.
Credit: NPS / Tom Engberg - NASA
![Scioto River Calm waters on a river as seen through a clearing between trees](/articles/images/SciotoRiver.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS / Tom Engberg
Activity 2
The Scioto River flows near Mound City Group and was used by the Hopewell for transportation and trading. There were no horses in America during Hopewell times. Can you think of two ways American Indians may have travelled during this time? You can either print this section of the activity out and jot your answers on each line or just record your answers on a blank sheet of paper and then discuss it with your parents. You can also email us and ask a ranger.