The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-09-10

burial customs seem to have var
led with different time periods and
with different tribes. These burial
mounds are mostly of a circular
form and vary from two or three
/ feet up to twelve feet in height.
Most examinations Of these
mounds yield little or nothing of
interest as time and decay have
Illuminated all trace Of any con-
tents, but occasionally where con-
ditions are favorable, remains of
human skeletons have been found
or an outline Of contrasting soil
from which the nature Of the or
! iginal contents can be determined.
That the corpse was not buried i'm
mediately after death is indicated
by the fact that most of the re-
mains found show that the main
bones have been bundled up into
small package indicating that the
flesh was removed by decomposi-
ton or artificially before inter-
ment. Frequently remains of sew
eral bodies are found within the
same enclosure. Sometimes bones
have distinctly shown effects Of
close contact with fire as If some
form of cremation had been prac-
tised. /
There are other mounds of var
ious sizes and shapes. the elongat-
ed or long type predominating.
Some of these may be several hun
bred feet in length. They are also
generally found in groups and as
rule placed without any apparent
order but an interesting exception
to this rule is noted at what is
called Fort Poualak" two and a
half miles north of Pequot on the
west side of Upper Hay Lake.
There a group of seventy-three
mounds cover plain about half
mile in extent. The longest is 725
feet in length and is perfectly
straight. Back of this are several
others in perfect parallel spaced
equally and about so feet apart, and
reflect considerable engineering
skill in the plan. It has been es-
timated that 673,866 burdens of
soil of 80 pounds each or grand
total of 20 215, $50 pounds were used
in these constructions. The pur-
post of this enormous expenditure
of labor is mysterious. It is well
conceded that Indians did not re-
sort to entertainments in warfare
prior to their contact with the
white races, yet, the only conclus-
ion that this particular arrange
ment warrants is that it must
have been some kind of refuge or
retreat and probable defence works.
A legendary rumor persists that
signs pointing to extensive tunnel
ing in the vicinity were reported by
the earliest white locaters. At
| tempts to verify this has failed so
far but it is hoped that some in
formation may soon be acquired
through proposed excavations.
1T appears that this Poualak
figured as a sort of headquarters
to the surrounding villages and
that it was the center of much ac-
tivity. It's location at the head of
long water routes leading west,
north, and east and to the Missis-
sippi river and at the shortest port
age to the Sigly and Gull lake chain
to the south, gives it a strategic
location that augments this suppo-
sition. .-.~.z.s. so &.
1.-THE contour of the immediate
surrounding territory too, made it
inviting to q zvaEietysof wild life,
and covered with giant trees pro-
vided an ideal natural shelter.
Many of the old shabitatiens
scattered over this area have been
noted and subjected to. much
search. One so-called large. circle
located separately. on a; small ele-
walton a considerable distance from
the mounds was carefully excayat-
ed by the writer. late in the fall of
1880 and yielded most agreeable re-
suits. On a floor line about 3k feet
below the surface level were found
numerous chips of stone and brok-
en- pottery pieces of many patterns.
Near the floor center a hollow over
a foot deep lined with partly glazed
sand and crumbled pebbles showed
effects of intense heat. An entrance
tunnel was discerned towards, the
south side and near this had been
catched three earthen pots. One
was badly crumbled into small
pieces, the second was about one
half intact though badly affected
by frost cracks, and the third was
found in an inverted position and
intact except for some minor
cracks and a small break through
which a root from a tree had en-
tered.
"This proves to be the best spec
linen ever recorded found in this
or adjoining states. It is 1871 inches
high and 141a inches in diameter.
It's liquid capacity is over 51a gal
Ions and the thickness of the ma
terial in its walls range from 1-8
of an inch up to 5-16 inch at the
top of the rim. It's color is light
brown with a wide blackish band
of SCOT accommodations adhering to
the outside. The inside has a
smooth uniform finish but the out
side is entirely overlayed with orn-
amental designs. The work as a
whole is well balanced and pre-
sents very pleasing appearance
in which is reflected a good under
standing of true art.
"This vessel with the hundreds
Of other excellent pottery shreds
discovered at the various surround
ing sites form a collection that
tends to prove this to have been
the seat of the highest attachments
of the aboriginal pottery makers
art, and had attracted many stu
dents we'll versed in both Geology
and Archaeology. These visitors
have often impaired information
that has been guide in the per-
sonal investigation that have been
carried on as a ST are time hobby
over a period of alb put ten years.
"It is to be regr cited that the