Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-22
SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.
Search for the Mound Builders.
A Detailed Account of the Search
and its Results.

fre-hlstorlc mounds OF this portion
of Wisconsin in the interest Of An
thropology-that the first party,
composed of Hon. Calvert Spensley
and his son, DR.. Smudge, nee George
spensley, Cyrus Lanyon, John Lam
yon, Joseph H. Gundry, VIM. T.
Henry and his sons VIM. I. Henry,
Jr., and Frank Henry, John Hutch
ison and Peter Adams-have Just
returned from an expedition lasting
about week; The party, on the in
vitatiou of the Hon. NJ. NJ. Cothren,
pitched their tent and made head
quarters on the beautiful green in
front of the Judges pleasant farm
house, about a mile south of the
Lone Rock ferry over the Wisconsin
river, a most beautiful location, sur
rounded by fertile valleys and. 70
mantle hills, teeming with bountiful
crops almost ready for the reaper
from this point expeditions were
made daily, and mounds opened in
several localities. On the high hill
directly west Of the Lone Rock ferry,
and whose base is washed by the
river-was found line of mounds
all occupying the apex of the ridge,
and extending thereon for about
three-quarters of a mile west, with
only short intervals between them.
These mounds are all round mounds,
varying in diameter from about fif-
teen to thirty feet, and in height
from two to six feet, were burial
mounds and with one exception
had all been opened-and in the
earth excayated were found many
fragments of human bones. The
mound not disturbed was opened,
and at the depth of three feet the
entire skeleton Of large man, buried
in a doubled up position with his
head to the west was found-he had
evidently been laid on the surface of
the ground, and the mound erected
over him; the bones are the best
preserved Of any found by the expe-
dition, but as yet, time has not been
had to determine whether or not they
are preserved by some popularity of
the earth there, or are of more recent
date than the others.
The next mounds opened were in
the meadow of Mr.. LOOMS, four
miles north of Lone Rock, where
was found a group of about twenty
mounds all round, except one,
which was oblong-and about two
hundred feet long The land and
mounds-had been cultivated but is
now in grass, and no doubt by these
means the mounds have been greatly
denuded; they were in diameter the
same as those above mentioned, but
lower; no regular design in their po-
sition was observed except in those
farthest east, where were seven round
mounds in q north and south line,
with mound to the east and west
of the second mound from the south
end Of the line, each mound about
80 feet in diameter, and distant sc
feet from center to center, thus form
ing a cross. The second mound
from the south end Or center of the
cross was opened, but at the depth
Of four feet they were satisfied from
the appearance of the earth that it
had been opened before and the ex-
cavation refilled, as it showed no
outward signs of having been inter
fered with.
Another mound to the west was
then opened and at the depth Of
three feet the bones of three persons
were found; they were SO decom-
posed, fragile and@near to dust that
it was only with great care that parts
of them could be preserved; these
bodies had been laid upon the sur
face of the ground and the mound
erected over them; one of them is
thought to have been a man six feet
three inches, and the others of ordi-
nary stature; they were doubled up
at the knees and hips and laid east
and west, with the head alternately
each way. Strong evidence that
part of the remains had been burned
were obtained here, as also the
greater part of the genuine skull of
mound builder; many bones and
fragments, some charred to coal,
were taken from here, as also many
of the teeth, which were best pre-
served of all.
Another mound about one hun
dred feet southeast of the last one
mentioned was then opened, and at
the depth Of two and one-half feet
was found the bones Of two persons
of ordinary stature. in the same con-
dition and buried in the same man.
ner as those last described.
Near Francis Martell's residence
on Otter Greek, were found fourteen
round mounds, situated in a true
north and south row, in grove, and
covered with second growth timber,
some of it eight to ten inches in di-
ameter. These mounds vary in size