NOTABLE MOUND GROUPS 
45 
burial places, which are very common on the river terraces but 
extremely rare so far as discovered on the uplands. 
The next most abundant type is the long earthwork, twenty 
to twenty-five feet wide and about three feet high in cross section, 
and of all lengths from less than fifty feet to six hundred. This 
type is sometimes regarded as having been built for defensive 
purposes but a study of the location and surroundings will show 
that this is in no case the correct theory. Like the conical mounds 
little or nothing of relics or anything to indicate burials is ever 
found in them. The reason for the building of these mounds is 
problematic. 
Following the long embankments in abundance are the effigy 
mounds. These are earthworks built in crude imitation of the 
forms of animals, birds and reptiles, in semi-relief. Near Ft. 
Atkinson in Wisconsin is one of a man. All are large and in 
most cases they are between one hundred and two hundred feet 
in length. It is now generally believed that these were intended 
to represent the totems of the family that made them. The 
reasons for their erection were perhaps analogous to those for The 
erection of the totem poles of the Indians of the northwest coast. 
It is usually hard to determine the particular animal, bird or 
reptile which they were intended to represent. Among those 
which have been identified with a reasonable certainty are the 
bear, panther, bison, wild cat, eagle, night hawk, wild goose and 
lizard. 
Groups of all types where located on the bluff tops are always 
on the highest part or ridge of the divides between the gulches 
tributary to the great river. In such locations they are found in 
strings following the divide from the promotory next the river 
bank for considerable distances inland but never so far but 
that the river can be seen from each mound. A string may con- 
sist entirely of conical mounds or these may be interrupted by a 
long earthwork or effigy mound. Usually the conical mounds are 
nearest the river, the others farther away. Where groups occur 
on the terraces the mounds may be in rows or scattered about 
promiscuously with long and effigy mounds here and there among 
the more numerous conical types. 
On Pike’s Peak directly opposite the mouth of the Wisconsin 
river is a fine bear mound. Another occurs on Point Ann just 
south of McGregor, while on a point half way between is a group 
