Exploration of the Tremper Mound 

 in Scioto County, Ohio 



By William C. Mills 



INTRODUCTION 



ITUATED five miles north of Portsmouth, on the west 

 side of the Scioto river, in Rush township, Scioto county, 

 Ohio, is the Tremper mound. The land on which it lies is a 

 part of the estate of Senator William D. Tremper, of Ports- 

 mouth, which consists of more than 700 acres of the rich 

 bottom-lands about the confluence of Pond creek and Scioto river. 



The immediate site of the mound is a level plateau, about 70 feet 

 above low-water mark of Scioto river. Looking westward from the 

 summit of the mound upon the narrow valley of Pond creek, which 

 threads its way between rugged hills upward of 500 feet in height, one 

 is impressed by the powerful forces employed by nature in carving 

 out this narrow watercourse, enabling the stream, fed by innumerable 

 springs, to carry its excess of pure cool water to its junction with the 

 Scioto. During glacial times Pond creek doubtless was an outlet for 

 the water from melting glaciers, pushing down from the northwest, as 

 well as for that from icebergs incident to the glacial period. These ice- 

 bergs at times doubtless resulted in damming the flow of the torrent, 

 and an extremely interesting illustration of this retarding influence 

 is to be seen just a few hundred yards west of the mound. At the 

 point referred to, a most impressive natural amphitheater, semicir- 

 cular in form, 1000 feet long and 50 feet or more in height, marks 

 the site along the eastern side of the valley of the stream, where 

 the glacial flood, breaking the restraint of the ice, has carved its 

 history. 



At the intersection of the Scioto and Pond creek valleys, and just 

 a short distance southwestward from the mound, is a fine spring of 

 water. This spring doubtless played an important part in the life of 

 the builders of the Tremper mound and of other dwellers, just as it 

 has done in affording a never-failing supply of pure cold water to 

 the early white settlers of that section, to their descendants, and to all 

 who at the present time pass along the highway where it invitingly 

 awaits the thirsty traveler. 



At the site of this spring, in early days, was situated the Buck- 



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