August 11, 2009

August 11, 2009

The Indian mounds we saw last night are not unusual for this area. We saw a couple several years ago in Devils Lake State Park in central Wisconsin. We are going to see a lot more today as we visit Effigy Mounds National Monument ten miles north of us. What we learn is that the central US had literally tens of thousands of Indian mounds. Many still exist but the majority over the years have been built on or leveled by farm plows. Plus without periodic grooming and mowing nature reclaims its share. The majority of the circular mounds have been found to contain multiple burials. Apparently when working with stone tools it is easier to pile dirt up in a mound versus digging a hole.

What is unique about this area is that some of the mounds are in the shape of animals. In Effigy National Monument the predominant shape is that of a bear. And not a small bear. The largest is almost the length of a football field. Since they could only be appreciated from the air, it makes you wonder whom they were built for. Hmmm, maybe “Chariot of the Gods” was right about those ancient astronauts!!

After checking out the Visitor Center, we head out on the trail. We listen to a ranger halfway and then continue on our own. Most of the mounds here atop the river bluff are in good condition because this rolling heavily wooded area had little commercial value. Still we have a hard time getting excited about them. The round ones are just mounds of dirt a couple feet high. And without a helicopter it is hard to appreciate the animal-shaped mounds.

It could be we are just getting tired of these Indian historical sites. Thinking we need a vacation to revive our energy level, we spend the next several hours driving to the outskirts of Chicago and the home of Aimee’s mother.