CHAPTER I . 



ANCIENT WORKS IN THE VICINITY OP LAKE MICHIGAN. 



The most southerly point on the west shore of Lake Michigan where traces of 

 ancient labor can be found, is about four miles south of the " State line" between 

 Wisconsin and Illinois. These works are doubtless burial-places, and consist of a 

 series of round or conical mounds, nine in number, from three to five feet in height, 

 and about thirty feet in diameter, arranged in a serpentine row along the crest of 

 a ridge of sand, an ancient lake beach, which extends for many miles along the 

 lake shore. (See Fig. 1.) We first saw this beach in the road three miles north 

 of Racine, and traced it at intervals into the State of Illinois. It has an elevation 

 estimated at fiftj^ feet above the present level of the lake, and at the mounds 

 affords a good view of the countrv on both sides. It is here about half a mile 



Fig. 1. 



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MoiinJs on the ancient Lake Beach, four miles south of the State line. 



distant from the lake. It consists of sand and gravel, and rests upon a bed of 

 hard clay. There is no doubt that this ridge extends south to the end of the 

 lake, and is connected with the remarkable series of ridges described by Prof. 

 Shepard.^ It is occupied by the main road from Milwaukee to Chicago, and is 

 frequently so broad on the top as to afford room for buildings. 



We saw no other mounds, nor could we hear of any in this vicinity. Some sur- 

 veys, however, made by Professor Lathrop, indicate that the "turtle" form extends 

 down Rock River as far as Rockford, or within six miles of the Kishwaukee. Traces 



Auicr. Joiirii. of ScIpiicc and Arts, .XXXIY. 134. 



