MOUNDS ON GIDEON'S FARM, MINNESOTA. 



425 



skulls rapidly crumbled on exposure to the air, so they were returned 

 to their rest ing-place, aud again covered with earth. One of these skulls 

 was cloven from tbe top of the head to the jaw, as though by an ax, aud 

 a lower jaw, which, though in two portions, seemed to belong to the 

 skull, also bore witness to the force of the blow. 



To Peter M. Gideon, esq., owner of the farm where the mounds are 

 located, and superintendent of the State Experimental Fruit Farm, 

 which adjoins it, many thanks are due for his kindness in giving infor- 

 mation, and for assistance rendered in making the survey. 



The group of mounds shown in the upper left-hand corner of the 

 plan are, as their title shows, at Minnetonka Lake Park, and about one 

 mile in a straight line to the northeast of the larger group. They are 

 situated where the strip of high land between the upper and lower lakes 

 has diminished to the narrow limits shown in the plan. About a quarter 

 of a mile farther north it ends at a large slough, through which winds 

 the narrow creek which connects the two lakes. These mounds have 

 not been explored. 



lam informed that about two miles southwest of "Gideon's" there 

 are about forty or fifty mounds, thrown up close together, and covering 

 two or three acres of ground. They are not ou the shores of the lake, 

 but some distance inland. 



At the west end of the " Upper Lake," and about seven miles from 

 the group shown on the plan, is Mound City, a small settlement so 

 named from the number of the mounds which are found there. 



At Ferguson's Point, about two miles north of Excelsior Village, on 

 the east shore of the lake, is another collection of mounds, and at many 

 of the prominent points 

 and headlands of the 

 lake shore may be found 

 one or more mounds. 

 Other employment how- 

 ever, has pie vented me 

 from finding opportu- 

 nity to visit them or ob- 

 tain further information 

 in regard to them. 



The following informa- 

 tion, which is of rather a 

 miscellaneous character, 

 I have obtained through 

 the kindness of a friend, 

 wiio is also a civil en- 

 gineer. "The Indian 

 mounds which in a Mounds at Eden Prairie, Minn. 



former letter I located at Eden Prairie, are in Bloomington Township, 

 about twelve miles southeast of Excelsior. I give a rough sketch taken 

 from my note-book, which will give some idea of the locality. 



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