The Hopewell civilization who are
most likely the Nephites stated in the Book of Mormon, built
fortifications in the same way as described in the Book of Mormon.
Alma 50:1
1 And now it came to pass that Moroni ... he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
Alma 49:4
4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.
1 And now it came to pass that Moroni ... he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
Alma 49:4
4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.
Hopewell reconstructed village with
earthen mound around their village.
Alma 49:22
22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.
22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.
Remains of a Hopewell ditch that
were built around their cities
Hopewell Nephite timber
stockade
Alma 50:2-3
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.
Description of the Hopewell Pollock Stockade
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.
Description of the Hopewell Pollock Stockade
“It consists of a series of earthen embankments ranging from three to ten feet in height that partially enclose a large, 120-acre, plateau located along Massie Creek.
“Robert Riordan, an archaeologist with Wright State University, has directed many seasons of excavations at the Pollock Works revealing a complicated site history. The works appear to have been constructed in five major stages beginning as early as AD 50. One of these stages involved the erection of a large, timber stockade along the top of the earthen embankments.”
Reconstructed Hopewell Timber
Stockade.
Hopewell Nephite tower fortification
Alma 50:4
4 And he caused towers to be erected
that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security
to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the
Lamanites could not hurt them.
I could not find a full
reconstruction of a Hopewell Indian fortification but did find a reconstructed
stockade at Angel Mounds. This stockade dates past the Book of Mormon and
Hopewell timeline to 1100AD-1450AD. But the towers and timber stockade as
described in the Book of Mormon can be seen.
Eventually the building of fortifications in this style completely died out.
Eventually the building of fortifications in this style completely died out.
Angel Mounds
Why don't archaeologists find evidence of warfare if these ditches were for defensive purposes?
ReplyDeleteDoug
DeleteWar is a possible cause, as villages dating to the Late Woodland period shifted to larger communities; they built defensive fortifications of palisade walls and ditches.
See links
Hill Cumorah mass burial pits
http://bookofmormonevidence.blogspot.com/2016/09/hill-cumorah-mass-burial-pits-and.html
West Sea Fortification
http://bookofmormonevidence.blogspot.com/2016/09/archeological-evidence-of-west-sea.html
East Sea fortification
http://bookofmormonevidence.blogspot.com/2016/09/archeological-evidence-of-fortified.html
Archaeologists hypothesize is that there was a cultural collapse within the communities, as the succeeding settlements showed signs of a large-scale societal transition to larger, permanent, more isolated communities. Also, technological developments -- including the introduction of the bow and arrow -- made for a shift in hunting, gathering, and WAR, which may have forced Hopewell societies to become more secluded for survival.
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Hopewell_Culture?rec=1283