Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County)
Seip North Circle
Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)·Neolithic / Woodland; Hopewell·🇺🇸 Ohio, Ross County, Seip, United States
About
About Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County)
Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County) in Ohio, Ross County, Seip, United States is a Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE) earthwork attributed to Neolithic / Woodland. Systematic survey and LiDAR document ceramic seriation. The site includes a principal citadel and domestic quarter. Dimensions 435m × 51m; area 39.2 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition ruins. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Neolithic / Woodland earthwork with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 240 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Elite residence hypothesis
- 02Ritual landscape model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic / Woodland; Hopewell
- Builders
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork with astronomical alignment
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 844 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1928
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
39.2000° N · 83.2200° W · 240 m · 4 mapped features
- Principal MonumentstructurePrincipal Monument at Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County) — structure with stratified deposits39.2009° N · 83.2204° W
- Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary Complex at Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County) — complex with stratified deposits39.2004° N · 83.2204° W
- Outlier FeatureoutlierOutlier Feature at Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County) — outlier with stratified deposits39.1991° N · 83.2195° W
- Reservoir/CisternhydraulicReservoir/Cistern at Seip Earthworks — North Circle Ancillary (Ross County) — hydraulic with stratified deposits39.1998° N · 83.2218° W
Gallery