The Hopewell people were a Native American culture that thrived in the eastern United States from around 200 BCE to 500 CE. They are best known for their impressive earthworks, including mounds and geometric shapes, which served various purposes, such as burial sites and ceremonial centers. The Hopewell culture was not a single tribe but a network of communities that shared similar practices and trade routes. The Hopewell people engaged in extensive trade, exchanging goods like copper, shells, and obsidian across long distances. They were skilled artisans, creating intricate pottery, jewelry, and tools. Their society was complex, with evidence of social stratification and a rich spiritual life, reflected in their burial customs and the artifacts found in their mounds.