10 BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE. [V,ol. III. 



the fact that no opportunity has as yet presented itself to study and 

 measure these remains, makes a detailed discussion of them impos- 

 sible at present. 



The work at this site continued until September fifteenth, dur- 

 ing all of which time the party was accorded the most kindly con- 

 sideration by the people of the entire region. Thanks are especially 

 due to Mr. L. J. Dartt, whose inherent interest in such matters 

 caused him to devote many spare hours and even whole days at a 

 time to assisting in the excavating. Thanks are also due to Mr. 

 Towne L. Miller and Mr. Charles Lamb of Ripon, who paid the 

 camp two short visits and who assisted us materially on both occa- 

 sions. 



This work at the Kratz Creek group is the initial step by the 

 Public Museum in what it is hoped will develop into a systematic 

 series of excavations of typical mound groups and other archeolog- 

 ical remains in Wisconsin. 



INTRODUCTION 



In offering this discussion of the survey and excavation of the 

 Kratz Creek group of mounds we wish to call attention to certain 

 special features which may prove of value in the study of mound 

 problems elsewhere. 



While many surface surveys and a certain amount of excavating 

 have previously been done by members of the Wisconsin Archaeo- 

 logical Society and by various other individuals, no intensive sur- 

 vey and excavation with the aid of surveying instruments and with 

 special attention to stratification have been conducted in recent 

 years 1 in this state 2 . The need for such work is especially apparent 

 when we consider that in Wisconsin are located almost the only 

 effigy mounds 3 known, and that these show a great variety of forms. 



There are many purely theoretical conceptions concerning the 

 origin, construction and purposes of mounds, especially those of 



1 The splendid pioneer work of Dr. I. A. Lapham as recorded in his Antiquities of Wis- 

 consin, Washington, 1855, should be here mentioned. 



2 Similar methods have been employed elsewhere, particularly by Professor W. C. Mills in 

 Ohio, where somewhat similar mound problems exist. 



3 The great serpent effigy in Ohio and certain others are the most notable exceptions. 



