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[archaeogeo]

The on-again/off-again Lunar Major Moonrise Viewing public event is on with a new twist.  Meanwhile, the issue of who owns the past and who can access it garnered new attention in Ohio during this renewed public access "controversy."  The lunar major event, an 18.6 year cycle, placed renewed attention on the fact that one of humanity's most spectaular prehistoric monuments, one of particular interest to historians of astronomy and science generalists alike, is not only closed to public access, but operated as a golf course.  Yes, it is a private country club also, with a clubhouse on the grounds overlooking the earthwork.

Now the Country Club that holds a lease of the property until 2078 and uses humanity's largest geometric earthwork to play golf has decided to sponser the public event after failing to reach agreement with other parties attempting to gain access for same.  Their press release and an article link follows below.  Here also a sample image from the new Octagon Photo Gallery.  I happened to be there by coincidence on the one day they opened to the public last Fall during an Earthworks Celebration.



Golfers control ancient lunar observatory
Indian Country Today, NY - Sep 3, 2006
... sculpted earthen walls defining a 20-acre circle and a 50-acre octagon, as well ... A public moonrise viewing that OHS itself had arranged for later this fall was ...

Here is the article (with a religious focus):
http://www.indiancou...m?id=1096413601



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Moundbuilders Country Club Sponsors Moonrise Celebration October 11, 2006

Moundbuilders Country Club will be sponsoring an event at the Octagon Mounds located in Newark Ohio on October 11, 2006 marking the date of the northernmost alignment of the Moon. This rare event can be viewed only once every eighteen and a half years when the Moon reaches the northernmost point in its lunar cycle.

Parking will be available to the Public on the southern edge of the Country Club property (current Driving Range) starting at 8:00 PM. To get there, observers will turn north from Main St, just west of the Hospital onto McMillen Dr. (at CVS Store) and turn right Hospital Dr. Parking will be on the left. The general public will be able to walk the grounds until the moon rises above the horizon at approximately 10:30 PM.

No parking will be available at the 33rd street parking lot. In the event of inclement weather, the cancellation will be broadcast on all local media outlets. No rain date will be set.


Background

Research in the early 1990's showed the 2000 year-old design of the mounds aligned with the northern and southernmost axis of the 18-½ year lunar calendar. For the first time since this finding, the general public will have an opportunity to view this unique event. The next time this occurs will be spring 2024.

The area of central Ohio and Newark was formerly abundant with Indian Mounds, now only the Great Circle Mound located on State Rt. 79 at @ 21st Street and Octagon Mounds located at Moundbuilders Country Club remain intact. Regrettably, early developers in the Newark area caused the destruction and elimination of several mounds and earthworks. But fortunately, the Octagon site attained sufficient notoriety to cause the State Militia (Ohio National Guard) to restore what they had altered or eliminated while using the site for an encampment from 1892 to 1896. In 1901, a 6-hole golf course was established on the site by R.O. Austin of the Newark High School, and in 1908, the State Militia abandoned the encampment grounds, known as Camp William McKinley.

The Octagon was deeded to the Newark Board of Trade in 1910, and later deeded to the Ohio Historical Society in 1933, following which the Civil Works Administration began restoration projects at both the Octagon and the Great Circle.

Moundbuilders Country Club was founded in 1910 and began operation, with 160 members, on a 9-hole golf course designed by Thomas Bendelow, one of America's pioneer golf architects. In 1923, the 18-hole course opened. When the original club house was replaced by a new structure in 1964, the Moundbuilders Country Club reaffirmed our commitment to the maintenance of the reconstructed earthworks. The diligent efforts of our club were recognized by the Society in 1997, when they extended our lease to the year 2078. Moundbuilders Country Club has been a proud steward helping to preserve this site for the past Ninety-Six Years. Special invitations will be sent to Governor and Mrs. Taft as well as local teacher Linda Woolard of Miller Elementary whose 4th grade class introduced a bill proclaiming the Newark Earthworks the official prehistoric site of Ohio. Governor Taft signed the bill into law in June 2006.

More information can be found at www.moundbuilderscc.com.

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