1919] BARRETT AND HAWKES, KRATZ CREEK MOUNDS. 13 



Most of these mounds are arranged systematically in definite 

 groups. One of the largest and most important of these is the 

 Kratz Creek group, shown in figure 1, the exploration of which 

 forms the subject of this paper. 



THE KRATZ CREEK MOUND GROUP 



The Kratz Creek group of mounds is located on both banks of 

 Kratz creek, plate I, fig. 1, a small stream flowing from the south 

 into Buffalo Lake. It consists of fifty-one mounds of three general 

 types, effigy, linear and conical, arranged in certain definite group- 

 ings along the brow of the elevated south shore of the lake. 



The principal body of these mounds is on what is known as 

 Kratz Point, a prominent projection just east of the creek itself, 

 and which commands an unobstructed view for several miles up 

 and down the lake. 



Buffalo lake is about midway between the Fox-Wisconsin port- 

 age and Lake Winnebago, while Kratz Point is about midway of the 

 lake itself, and was in aboriginal times well wooded and had two 

 good springs immediately adjacent. These features, combined with 

 the commanding outlook of the point, and the abundance of the 

 natural resources of the region made it a favorable location for 

 Indian assemblages. No more ideal spot could have been chosen 

 for ceremonial gatherings, councils or other important tribal or 

 inter-tribal meetings. 



That this point was so considered by the builders of the mounds 

 themselves is shown by the presence of the very large conical 

 mound (No. 1) located on the immediate point itself, and on which 

 most of the mounds of the rear line of the group appear to bear. 



ARRANGEMENT OF MOUNDS 



The general arrangement of these mounds, and the relations in 

 which they stand one to another should be first considered. These 

 are shown in the plat of the group given in text fig. 1. They, as a 

 whole, appear to be arranged with definite reference to the lake, 

 being placed in lines more or less parallel to its shore. 



Along the immediate shore is a fairly continuous line of mounds 

 of various types which, as will be later shown, appear to antedate a 



