GC3GGEG Tomahawk Trail (Traditional Cache) in Wisconsin, United States created by Team Nut Tree

This cache has been archived.

Team Nut Tree: Checked on this one today and found that the dock was replaced. Archiving.

TNT

GC3GGEG ▼

A cache by Team Nut Tree Message this owner

Hidden : 4/9/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache highlights the Winnebago County portion of the route of the ancient Tomahawk Trail (AKA Fox River Trail) that ran from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago near Portage.

Tomahawk Trail map from the Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol.2, Nos. 3 and 4 (1903)

This trail was well established long before Europeans first traveled and recorded it's existence. The trail location was dictated by the best fords and the path of least resistance.

The Tomahawk Trail entered Winnebago County along the north shore of the Fox River in the Town of Menasha. The trail then turned inland to a fordable place on Mud Creek (N 44 14.396 W 88 27.456). Then it ran along Little Lake Butte des Morts, past the Hill of the Dead (N 44 12.346 W 88 28.254) near present day Fritze Park, and then to Blair Springs (N 44 11.946 W 88 28.787). Here cold fresh water was available before or after the long overland trip. From Blair Springs, the trail went southwest over gravel ridges to the Butte des Morts ford (N 44 05.925 W 88 39.207) near Lake Butte des Morts (and our cache location). From there, the trail crossed the ford on the Fox River and went through a very large marsh (mostly under water now and part of the lake). It then followed the south shore of the Fox River and exited the county in the Town of Rushford (N 43 59.786 W 88 53.173).

The map shows interesting locations and evidence of Indian presence along the trail, listed by number. The following is a description of those locations:

3. This just indicates the trail itself.

4. Sill's Creek Shell Heaps: A large accumulation of clam shells discarded by Indians. Also found nearby were arrowheads, awls, copper artifacts and pottery.

5. The Hill of the Dead (no longer in existence except in replica at Fritze Park).

8. Kame Burials: Numerous shallow graves on the gravel ridges that run along the trail between Little Lake Butte des Morts and Lake Butte des Morts in the towns of Menasha, Neenah, Vinland and Winneconne.

41. Butte des Morts: Old village site and burials.

42. Omro Village Site: Evidence of Indian corn hills, stone and copper implements and human bones.

43. Buyou Village Site: Evidence of a village and cornfields.

52. Menominee Village of Waukau: The chief was named Lapone.

53. Delhi Mounds: A group of six mounds.

54. Eureka Mound: A round mound and burying grounds.

Sources:
Lawson, Publius V., Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol.2, Nos. 3 and 4 (1903)
Lawson, Publius V., History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, 1908

This is Beagle-nose's first cache container she put out. She did the camo and swag.

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