Native American Site

There's a Native American site in Ohio that appeared to be a fort. But recent discoveries by archaeologists at the University of [Cincinnati:California] show that's not the case. Instead, it's a two-thousand year old Shawnee water management system. It stretches out almost six kilometers. That's much larger than what had been thought to [comprise:connect] the so-called fort. It's one of the largest such sites in the country.What had been thought to be gates for military protection are actually a series of dams and [irrigation:agricultural] canals. There are logs and clay bricks for damming; raceways for flowing water [originate:start] in far-off springs. The water was stored and channeled for irrigation. Drill cores show water sediments and clay.The site demonstrates a [sophisticated:social] knowledge of engineering - which archaeologists not realize that Native American communities might have. The site also reveals an [emphasis:accent] on public works, rather than on war. So this discovery might rewrite a bit of history. Another interesting note: Shawnee remains from the time are typically of petite, graceful men - and robust, muscular women. So it was probably the women who built the water system. Which means even more history to rewrite.