ANCIENT MOUNDS IN IOWA AND WISCONSIN. 



By Clement L. Webster, Charles City, Iowa. 



Along the shores of the " Father of Waters" in Iowa and Wisconsin 

 there once existed large numbers of that deeply interesting but little 

 known race, the mound-builders. How long the shores of this mighty 

 river continued to be the home of portions of this race, can not even be 

 conjectured. But the valleys and bluffs of this cliff-bound river are 

 dotted with the monuments of these departed people. 



Large numbers of these ancient mounds have been explored and the 

 record given to the world of science, while perhaps a still larger num- 

 ber have been explored and the records and relics lost. 



In this paper is chronicled the result of explorations in a few of these 

 ancient mounds. These explorations were made by Dr. W. T. Knapp, 

 now of Charles City, Iowa, and to whom I am indebted for most of the 

 following facts : 



In the town and vicinity of Guttenberg, which is located on the level 

 flood-plain of the valley of the Mississippi, on the west or Iowa side of 

 the river, are located large numbers of small circular and long mounds, 

 most of which were reared apparently by the present Indian race. 



Large numbers of these mounds have been opened by those incited 

 merely by curiosity, and many valuable facts and relics obtained only 

 to be so on irreparably lost. 



Nearly, if not quite all, these mounds contained, in greater or less 

 abundance, implements, ornaments, etc., of copper, silver, and stone, as 

 well as human remains. 



Some of the mounds here are 124 feet in length, and contain great 

 quantities of human bones. Numbers of these burials have been made 

 in recent time and have been witnessed (so claimed) by white men now 

 living. Most of the burials are those of Indians. 



One mound at Guttenberg opened by Dr. Knapp was circular, 16 feet 

 in diameter at the base, and 3 to 4 feet in height. In the center, 2 feet 

 below the surface of the ground at the base of the mound, was discov- 

 ered a human skeleton, the bones being in a fairly well preserved con- 

 dition. On each side of the head was found a large circular silver 

 ornament, 2 inches in diameter, which, from their position, would indi- 



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