Seip Mound is one of the largest earthen mounds built by the Hopewell culture (A.D. 1–400) of precontact American Indian people. It is 240 feet long, 160 feet wide, and 30 feet high. Originally, this mound was surrounded by a large, semi-circular enclosure that was connected to smaller circular and square enclosures. In all, the earthworks enclosed 120 acres with 10,500 feet of embankment walls. The walls were up to ten feet in height.
The Ohio History Connection excavated Seip Mound between 1925 and 1928. The excavation team discovered more than one hundred burials associated with a variety of artifacts crafted from exotic raw materials such as copper and mica. At the conclusion of the study, the mound was restored to its original dimensions.
Between 1906 and 1909, the Ohio History Connection explored a smaller structure, composed of three connected mounds, located a short distance to the east of the large Seip Mound. This mound also was called "Seip Mound," but to avoid confusion it is now referred to as the Seip Conjoined Mound. Sometimes the larger Seip Mound is called the Seip-Pricer Mound.
Seip Mound is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Ohio History Connection owns the central section of the earthworks complex including the restored mound, the remnants of the conjoined mound, and major portions of the circular and square enclosures. The National Park Service owns the surrounding property, including the remaining portions of the enclosure. Seip Mound is located 14 miles southwest of Chillicothe, Ohio in Ross County and is open to visitation throughout the year.
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