National Register of Historic Places

Rocky Fork Park Site

Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio

Listed

June 17, 1973

Type

Structure

Period

Industrial

Ref No.

73001479

About this property

The Rocky Fork Park Site is an archaeological site in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Located in Rocky Fork State Park in eastern Highland County, the site's earthworks have been designated a historic site because of their archaeological importance. The site comprises a pair of circular enclosures, one within the other, which sit atop the edge of a hill. Because the tops of the enclosures are level, the western side is barely distinguishable from the adjacent ridgeline, while the eastern side is 11 feet (3.4 m) higher than the hillside immediately below it. Both earthworks include "gateways" on their eastern sides, which because of their location on the hillside produce in the observer a sense of being within an amphitheatre. Almost no changes have been made to the site in the historic period; the forest originally covering the site has been removed to permit its use as pastureland, but the field has never been plowed. The earthworks are believed to have been the work of Hopewellian peoples, who lived in the region for the millennium ending around AD 700. While the Hopewell are known to have built many hilltop enclosures, including the large Highland County site known as Fort Hill, the placement of the Rocky Fork Site is unique. Like most Hopewell sites, it is believed to have been built for ceremonial purposes. In 1973, the Rocky Fork Park Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with a Hopewellian mound group also within Rocky Fork State Park. Both locations qualified for inclusion on the National Register because of their archaeological importance. They are two of four Highland County archaeological sites on the Register, along with Fort Hill and the Workman Works.

Location

Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio

Everything a full report reveals about Rocky Fork Park Site

This page lists Rocky Fork Park Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Questions about this property

When was Rocky Fork Park Site listed on the National Register?

Rocky Fork Park Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Rocky Fork Park Site?

Rocky Fork Park Site is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rocky Fork Park Site?

The period of significance for Rocky Fork Park Site is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Rocky Fork Park Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rocky Fork Park Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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