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UurihuM* Cntth, Fi\o Linen 01 less, pci eur, -. 0.00Tarxiolont Athcithcinrut* must bo paid for in udvtuico.Local Sketchings.There are few objects perhaps, that excite more interest and curiosity in the minds of the Eastern emigrant than the ancient mounds or “Butt des Morts’— as they wero called by the French voy-ageur, found in the Western'and some of the other states of the Union. The accounts which we had read of their existence gavo hut a faint idea of their universal prevalence in the state of Wisconsin. Every neighborhood, every village, and perhaps we might say every farm has these interesting vestiges of a numerous people long sinco gone to rest; about whoso history there hangs a veil-an impenetrable mystery—of whom the present Indian tribes have no knowledge, myth or tradition. In some places in this State, these mounds are found in the forest where they support large trees growing on the summit, three feet in diameter. On opening these mounds they are found to contain spear and arrow heads, human bones, and sometimes pottery. These hones have always been found in a state of decay, and everything connected with the moundsgives evidence that centuries have passedsince their erection by a people possessing considerable skill in the arts. But wc took up the pen to give a sketch of a fewposcon tha of 1 uplt; oveUnis t a b the has its anc Th Un the the theurtreeTiivillW«offinlt;Nowitpasof these mysterious mounds and “effigies” 1 min our immediate vicinity. They are so ^0!common as to excite very little interest in most of those who have been here for any length of time. They are unthink-beclugvebeeingly driven over and ploughed up as if _but a natural knoll, and not all that ro-1mains of the history of a past race.Two very interesting groups of mounds and effigies intermixed, may be found on Judge Gala's farm about one hundred rods west of his residence- The moundsarc very uniform in size and appearance;being from 30 to 40 feet in diameter, and from 0 to 4 feet high. In their plan theyare circular, in elevation, domc-likc.Tn one of these groups there are four effigies, three of animals, and one of the human form. Those of animals arc about lt;30 feet long and lie upon the side; they are almost exactly alike in size'and form, and all lie with their heads to the East, they are raised about 11-2 to 2 feet higher than the earth about them, and notwithstanding “Times effacing fingers,” are still too well defined to admit of a doubt in the most incredulous,of human a-gcnoy in their construction. By some these are supposed to represent the horse,but we think thev are too slim in their prop or-tion, and more nearlyreserablc the Hound.That of the human form lies in a recumbent position with arms out-spread, tho head and the legs seem to have been nearly effaced by time, but the arms, breast, and trunk, are very good aaodels and info!thewliingtheampison ch: is lt;nejhaireewhtinotlde:resinsanthith)CO’
Newspaper Details
Galesville Transcript
Galesville, Wisconsin, US
Fri, May 04, 1860
Page 4
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WI, USA 06 Oct 2017
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Galesville Transcript
