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Discovering History The Mounds

Discovering History The Mounds by Paul Wolter & Beverly Vaillancourt M.Ed design by PowerUp Design, LLC

images courtesy of the Sauk County Historical Society

Sauk County Historical Society 900 2nd Avenue PO Box 651 Baraboo, Wisconsin 53913 saukcountyhistory.org ©2023 Sauk County Historical Society Press Printed by Minutemen Press, Baraboo, WI, USA All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any means, electronic, recorded, or otherwise, without the express prior written consent of the Sauk County

Words to Know ceremonies

Midwest

dedicate

Minnesota

Devil’s Lake State Park

Mound Builders

effigy

mounds

estimated

National Historic Landmark

H.E. Cole

sacred

Illinois

William Canfield

Iowa Man Mound marker

The Mounds The mounds found in Sauk County and other places in the Midwest were built hundreds of years ago by Indigenous People called the Mound Builders. We are not sure when they settled in what is now called Wisconsin. We also don’t know what happened to the culture. What they left, however, were some 1500 mounds in Sauk County alone, and many more built in what today is southern Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. When William Canfield arrived here in 1842 some of the mounds were already 1,000 years old.

Discovering History

Today the mounds are considered sacred, or held as very special. We are not sure if the mounds were part of burial ceremonies, but it seems like that is a good possibility. It also is possible that the shapes represent the clans, or groups, of the people buried inside. All of the mounds require very special care so they can be properly preserved.

Man Mound One of the most famous mounds in the world is the Man Mound. It is found northeast of Baraboo on Man Mound Road. It is registered as a National Historic Landmark. This means it is is a very important part of history. Look carefully at the drawing of Man Mound. It was made in 1859.

Man Mound Drawn by William Canfiled 1859

• Who made the drawing? • What details do you notice? 3

Out of the thousands of effigy mounds that were constructed, only a very few mounds were built in the shape of a human. An effigy mound is a mound in the shape of a figure, such as bird. The Man Mound near Baraboo is believed to be the last remaining ancient mound on Earth with a human-like shape. Unfortunately a road was built through the legs in the mid-1800s and the feet were destroyed by farming.

In the past, people dug into the mounds or plowed them over. Some people, like H.E. Cole, were very interested in history. They were particularly interested in mounds and wanted to understand why and how they were constructed. Their way of doing research, however, was very destructive.

The Destruction of the Mounds No one is really sure of exactly how many mounds existed in Sauk County. However, it is estimated that at one time some 1500 mounds were found across what is today Sauk County. Many of them were plowed under to make way for farm fields. Others were destroyed by people curious about what might be found inside the mounds. Some dug into the mounds to study the culture of the Mound Builders. Others dug into them thinking their might be something of value in them. Some people did not understand the importance of the mounds. Others did not thnk they should be saved. Because of this, only a handful of the many mounds that once were in Sauk County still exist today. You can find effigy mounds at Devil’s Lake State Park. When you visit the park, ask the park rangers to help you find the mounds. Some of the mounds at Devil’s Lake State Park are in the shape of animals. They are very interesting to discover. Be sure to ask the park rangers questions about the mounds. They have a fascinating history and make us wonder that most likely at one time there were villages at Devil’s Lake where Indigenous People lived. Today, all remaining mounds are protected by state law and cannot be disturbed. This is to protect the few remaining mounds so we can study the shape and location of the mounds without disturbing them. Archeologists hope to learn more about why the mounds were built.

Effigy Mounds Effigy mounds are one type of mound. Effigy mounds have many shapes. Here is a chart that shows the many shapes of effigy mounds found in Wisconsin. What animals and birds might these shapes represent?

Mound Street This is the street sign for Mound Street in Baraboo. This street was named because of all the mounds that once were in this area. Over the years homes were built where the mounds once were located.

This is a part of the map drawn by William Canfiled in 1872. It shows the location of several effigy mounds near what today is Mound Street in Baraboo. Can you find them? Can you find the Baraboo River? What other details do you see on Canfield’s map? He notes the location of the Indian Council House. This was the center of an important Ho-Chunk village. What do you think the numbers represent?

The Saving of Man Mound In 1905, H.E. Cole learned from the owner of the property where Man Mound is located that the mound was going to be plowed. A committee was formed and a movement organized to raise $225 to purchase the property. By the end of 1907, the money had been raised and the property had been purchased. On Aug. 8, 1908, a group of 200 people met at the site of Man Mound to dedicate the land and the marker.

1908 Man Mound dediction

Today there are signs at Man Mound National Historic Landmark to help you learn more about the mounds and the Mound Builders. The Sauk County Historical Society remains the owner of the location and continues to protect and preserve the Man Mound.

Primary Sources

This section from a map drawn by William Canfield shows several effigy mounds. They were located in the what today is the Town of La Valle near the Baraboo River. Some years after they were found, they were destroyed by farming. Note the unit of measurement on the drawing. A rod is 16 1/2 feet long. How long was the one effigy mound that was measured? How would you describe the shapes of the effigy mounds? How does this drawing help us to learn more about the history of Indigenous People in Sauk County? 11

Think about It

1. Open your History Journal. 2. Write the definitions of the Words to Know. 3. Write two to three sentences about the Mound Builders and the effigy mounds. 4. Write a paragraph explaining why it is important to preserve and protect the mounds that remain today. 5. Why do you think the Mound Builders built mounds in the shape of animals? Write your answer in your History Journal. 6. Add one interesting idea to your History Journal. Share your idea with someone else. 12

Projects • Visit Man Mound. Explain the importance of Man Mound to others. • Find an interesting map. Explain how the scale is used to show distance. • Find a photo of a mound built by mound builders. Share information about it. • Measure the length of Man Mound on a surface, such as a hallway or sidewalk by drawing it to scale. Using chalk or tape, mark the length and width of Man Mound. • Research the Mound Builders. These are good places to start your research: https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/builders.htm https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/mounds.htm https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/preserve.htm • Read about mounds found in other states. One good place to learn about Effigy Mounds is by accessing the Effigy Mounds National Monument website. This location is managed by the National Park Service and is located near Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Here is the website: https://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm

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Mound locations in Sauk County, Wisconsin

Google Maps

Discovering History: The Mounds