WSQ Drumlin Mounds Sacred Grounds EarthCache
WSQ Drumlin Mounds Sacred Grounds
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A Geological, Historical and Sacred area right here in Wisconsin which I feel fits right in with our WSQ (Wisconsin Spirit Quest)
caches. I decided that this Earthcache deserves to be placed in
this special category. The coordinates take you to the parking
area, with the trail head up the well marked path. Thanks for
visiting!
This Earthcache is located in Nitschke Mounds County Park. I have included much information about the park, taken with permission from the Dodge Co. Parks Dept. website. For more information about this park, click on "User's Web Page" at the top of this listing. The park is open from dawn to dusk but is closed during gun deer hunting season for safety reasons.
This Earthcache was place with special permission from: Bill Ehlenbeck - Dodge County Parks & Land Manager {& fair weather Geocacher :) }
Please STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS. There is no need to leave the trail to find this cache. These mounds have been here for about 1000 years and we would like them to be around for another 1000 years.
History behind the Mounds: This property is nearly 54 acres in size and contains about 39 effigy, conical and linear mounds believed to have been constructed between 800 AD - 1100 AD by the Late Woodland Effigy Mound Culture. The mounds represent one of the best surviving examples of the Mound Builders culture that once occupied the Dodge County area. The well-known and documented Nitschke Mounds are comprised of 2 mound groupings with a total of 62 effigy, conical and linear mounds. Forty-six of these mounds were identified in the northern group - located on the now County-owned property. The Nitschke Mounds are located less than 2 miles from the Horicon Marsh and the site has 2 continuously flowing springs. The largest mound (based on square footage)in the group is a Turtle Effigy that measures 200' in length by 57' in width and 4' in height. The mounds were mapped and cataloged during a 1929 investigation which revealed that most of the mounds contained burials. The burials usually contained the remains of more than one individual and were usually found in flexed “in the flesh” or clean bundle of bones burial configurations. The pattern of effigy mounds burials suggest
that burials were usually not made immediately after death. Rather they were done at certain appointed times with appropriate ceremonies. Corpses would be brought from other temporary resting places, such as scaffolds, for final burial. Burials are characteristically located in the head and/or heart regions of the effigies and were often found in burial pits below the mound. Often times artifacts such as bone awls, arrowheads, shells and stones were found buried in the mounds as well. There are some great sketches which depicting the inside of the mounds and of the people
who created them as well as a lot more information all on signs along the trail.
Geology of the Mounds: An interesting aspect of the Mound People is that of the choice of geologically significant locations for their Effigies. Research provides that Effigies in Iowa & Wisconsin, were created atop predominant geology, such as ridges, hill tops, lake or river overlooks or as with here in Nitschke Park, upon a Drumlin. The geological characteristic of Wisconsin area Drumlins is that of containing soil called Glacial till. Here at Nitschke Mounds, that till is composed of Silt Loam.
Geology Terms:
Drumlin - a low, smoothly rounded, elongate hill of compact glacial till built under the margin of the ice and shaped by its flow; its longer axis is parallel to the direction of ice movement.
Glacial Till - mass of rocks and finely ground material carried by a glacier, then deposited when the ice melted. Creates an unstratified material of varying composition. Silt- loose sedimentary material composed of rock particles usually 1/20- millimeter or less in diameter. May also be used to refer to soil containing 80 percent
or more of such material and less than 12 percent of clay.
Silt Loam - soil consisting of silt, sand, and clay with the majority of the particles in the silt category.
When research was being done by W.C. McKern, back in 1928,
excavation revealed an unusual soil finding. Many of the mounds contained soil not indigenous to the area. It was speculated that since tribes moved across the lands, they would bring with them, soil from their native area. McKern presumed that this must have been done as an important part of the burial ceremony, so that the dead may continue to have connection to their native lands. Soil Samples cannot be viewed here, as these mounds now lay undisturbed.
Interesting Facts: An interesting feature of many mounds, including this one, is that of Long-tailed effigies, such as turtle and panther mounds, are believed to be representations of powerful (lower world) water spirit-beings. Often times they are oriented toward a
spring or water source. Here, the spring that turtle #1 seems to point to is south of HWY E on private land (park is located on the north side of HWY E).
"Spirit of Yesterday"
I've walked the lands of the ancient ones ..
Long since gone Generations
I can still feel their laughter.........their pain
I can still hear their songs.....
Hear their drums beating against a darken sky.....
I can see them dancing...
I can still see horses painted up for war
Still see Mothers and Wives with Tears in their eyes
But Pride in their hearts...
I can hear their Chants........their prayers
Still the memories and pride run deep in my own heart and soul as it did the People....
Medicine and holy men.....and the Chiefs....
This is My heritage.......the American Indians Spirit of Yesterday........
Is the Spirit of Tomorrow .......
A poem by Brenda Cloud Dancer
**************** SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT NOTES****************
Since many ancient villagers are buried here, the site is
considered sacred by modern Indian tribes. Please treat the area with respect, stay on the trail and do not walk on the mounds. It is illegal to remove artifacts or otherwise disturb archaeological sites on county lands without a permit. It is illegal to remove artifacts or otherwise disturb archaeological sites on state, county, village or city lands without a permit from the Office of the State Archaeologist under the Field Archeology Act Section 44.47 Wisconsin Statutes.
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Earthcache Requirements:
In order to Log this Earthcache as “Found” you must complete the following and send the answers via e-mail. If the requirements are not met, you log will
be deleted. Feel free to post as many pictures as you like.
THANKS!!
NOTE on Plantlife: People are stating they are coming across Poison Ivy at the mound I have you come to. From the picture noted on Bushwhacking Queens Log 7/4/2008, that is NOT Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy DOES NOT have thorns and the leaves have smooth edges NOT Sawtooth Edges. Hope this eases some minds!! The picture mentioned above, good chance those are Blackberries.
1. Use your compass or GPS and tell me, in what direction
does the Drumlin lay?
2. What is the approximate height of the
drumlin at the highest point you can reach, within the area of the mounds? (This can be done by using your GPS and getting a reading at the lowest point and the highest point. REMEMBER:Stay within designated areas.)
3. Listed on the board at the
trailhead: data from 1929 lists the height, width & length of each mound. Look for the Gourd or Tadpole Effigy #20 which you will also be visiting for part b. (I didn’t see a marker for #20, but you can see it first, when nearing the tail of the Panther Effigy #19)
a. What was the height measured in 1929?
b. Visit this mound and with the best guestimate (no measuring tool needed) tell me if this mound appears to have grown higher, settled lower or the same height as measured in 1929 and why??
4. Take a picture of your group or if alone, a pic of your GPS at your favorite Mound.
~~ References ~~
Dodge County Parks - Bill Ehlenbeck Parks & Land Manager, including the Parks website and Park Pamphlet, retrieved from: www.co.dodge.wi.us/landresources/recreation/parks-nitschke.html
University of Wisconsin -
Milwaukee Historic Resource Management Service Report
Investigations No. 154, Chapter 3: Physical Settings,
"Investigations at Nitschke Mounds County Park", provided
courtesy of Dodge Co. Parks Dept.
Geology definitions:
(visit link)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* FTF Congrats *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
PokerPlayingEMT-&a-BookWormQueen - & logging via Cellphone! How kewl is that!?!?
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