Skip to main content

Witness ancient brilliance in each of the Hopewell earthworks

A memorable and enriching experience

Seip Earthworks

Chillicothe, OH

Photo by: NPS

Like the other Hopewell earthworks, the Seip Earthworks were built by a dispersed group of American Indians for a ceremonial purpose. The three shapes that make up the Seip Earthworks—two enormous circles and a square—were likely large gathering places of great significance, as is evidenced by their divine geometry and archaeological contributions.

Visitor Info

7058 US 50 East
Bainbridge, OH 45612

  • Park grounds: Open dawn until dusk

Coordinates:

39.2416867 °N

83.2214086 °W

What you'll see

Most of the earthen walls that made up the three immense shapes of the Seip Earthworks are no longer visible. Rather, their historical existence was confirmed using scientific archaeological tools. The Central Mound, an enormous reconstructed mound in the center of the Great Circle, was the third largest Hopewell burial mound at 240 feet by 160 feet. The remnants of the rest of the complex can be difficult to appreciate without a guide.
Seip Map

Archaeology & Artifacts

In addition to evidence of elaborate tombs and timber structure at Central Mound, archaeological investigations have revealed activities not related to burial, including large intentional burials of copper plates, celts, and earspools; outsized obsidian blades; and many materials in the form of animal effigies. Interestingly, a set of five “Great Pipes” made in a style and material from the Tennessee River Valley were found, suggesting a connection with people nearly 300 miles away. Seip has not been as methodically explored as some of the other Hopewell earthworks, and will undoubtedly teach us more about the Hopewell culture in the future.

Seip Earthworks
Seip Mound

Human Genius

The three-shape arrangement of the Seip Earthworks shows up in several ancient earthworks sites in Ross County, Ohio. Extraordinarily, these shapes all have the same dimensions. The repeated dimensions of these areas require precise, well-refined techniques of design, measurement, and execution, and reveal the brilliance of their architects.
In addition, the winter solstice sun rises in alignment with a diagonal line that runs across the Seip square, reflecting the same phenomena seen in the squares at Mound City, Hopeton Earthworks, and Hopewell Mound Group.

Witness Ancient Brilliance

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, span several locations in Ohio. Each earthwork has its own marvels and wisdom to reveal, and is worthy of witnessing firsthand.