Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-07-08
GEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY.
Continued from first page.

Our county is rich IN the VestlgeS
of prehistoric occupation. The
boar antiquity of many Of these in
dications is attested by their pres
ent environment. For Instance
on the east shore of Green Lake,
near it's outlet, extends a tract of
land swelling southwark by gradual
ascent into a high morainic prairie.
1t emerged from the glacial epoch
a gravel-strewn, sandy and wind
swept peninsular pushing out into
the commingling waters Of what
then were the northwestern extern
sion Of the present lake Calhoun.
Green Lake and the south fork of
the north branch of the Grow river.
AS we face south from the present
outlet Of Green Lake the eye takes
in the heavy woods now covering
portion of this once barren spot
the roots and tendrils of the trees
in many instances burrowing deep
into many of the mounds. To the
right, across the curve of the shore,
is a glimpse of the former meeting
place of the waters.
Following a low sandy road we
reach the northeast extremity Of
this one-time peninsula, and the
vast reedy bed of vanished lake
shimmers in undulating sibilance
at our feet. Beyond the broken
fence the invading brushwood and
young trees mark where an extern
sive ice-formed ridge bears evil
dence to the bleak winters and
tempestuous springtides Of prehis
toric days. To this peninsula, east
ly accessible by water, and only
from the south by land, these pre-
historic people, to whom DR.. Win
hell gives the name of Amerindian,
brought their dead for burial.
Some 80 or 40 mounds resulted
among these being two long low
structures respectively $50 and 200
feet in extent. There exists evil
dence in the neighborhood of the
mill at the inlet some two miles
from here that large village site
once obtained; the finds Of pottery,
arrowheads, etc., and the nature of
the soil in many places indicate
that here was situated large and
populous community of Mound
Builders.
The finest collection of fints of
all sizes and kinds is that Of Mr..
Oliver Larson of Interlachen, the
majority and most characteristic of
which was found in this vicinity.
In contiguity to this site, on its
northwest shore and south of where
the south fork of the north branch
of Grow river enters Green Lake,
rises a series Of densely wooded
morainic hills, swelling to a height
varying from 50 to 125 feet above
the present water level.
On ascending these hills boulders
of red or gray granite, striated and
moss grown, are now and then met
with, thrusting their bulk thru the
till, while under the thick mold are
found many fragments of water
worn rock. Strange to say, an ar
tificial mound with trees Of all ages
and sizes growing ouE of it, is
found on the summit of every one.
So far but three of these summit
mounds have been opened-only one
in measure adequately excavated
but even imperfectly as the work
! has been done, the results thus far
/ give promise of much that will be
of interest in the archaeology of our
county.
! ! The present growth of timber is
probably the fifth or sixth distinct
forest which has spread over these
summit mounds since their con
struction, for the present trees, tho
| large and vigorous, are the lusty
/ successors of lustier sires, judged
| by the decaying remnants of earlier
= forests encountered in digging W
the mold.
Of the mounds opened last sum
- mer, the most noteworthy was tina
trenched by Rev Anthem 7. Gesne1
of Faribault and Mr. P. D. GATES
! Of Milwaukee. 1t was more thoro
| ly explored than any other. After
] clearing away a thick layer OF
| mold. they found at a depth Of over
/ 2 feet below this cleared surface Is
bouders of varying sizes built uk
into conical hearth. 1t had beer
exposed TO long continued and in.
tense heat; such of its stones as
! were not burnt red were reduced
to lime, or otherwise calcined
/ while the surrounding earth was
baked to the depth of several feet
I by the fires once glowing upon it
I On the removal of the stones, frag'
! ments of calcined bones and bits Of
charcoal were found in the inter
| stices of the lower layers-thest
! latter partially buried inia conglom
! crate of ashes, vitrified sand an(