The antiquities of Wisconsin : as surveyed and described . t occurrence in thedepths of the forests, and occasion much difficulty in making the public straight lines of the sections frequently encounter them, as may be seen bythe accompanying map. (Fig. 61.) The amount of earth adhering to the roots of a tree when prostrated by the wind,is, under favorable circumstances, very considerable, and upon their decay formsan oblong mound of greater or less magnitude, and a slight depression is left wherethe tree stood. These little hillocks are often, by the inexperienced, mistaken forInd
The antiquities of Wisconsin : as surveyed and described . t occurrence in thedepths of the forests, and occasion much difficulty in making the public straight lines of the sections frequently encounter them, as may be seen bythe accompanying map. (Fig. 61.) The amount of earth adhering to the roots of a tree when prostrated by the wind,is, under favorable circumstances, very considerable, and upon their decay formsan oblong mound of greater or less magnitude, and a slight depression is left wherethe tree stood. These little hillocks are often, by the inexperienced, mistaken forIndian graves. From the paucity of these little tree-mounds we infer that no T. A. Culbertsons Journal, in 5th Animal Report of tlip Smithsonian Institution, p. lis. Crania Americana, pp. 199, 200. The Winnebagos are a branch of the Sioux stock. Gallatins Synopsis, p. 120. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 91 very groat antiquity can be assigned to the dense forests of Wisconsin ; fora long period of time, with no material change of climate, we would expect duringto find. Map showing Wind-falls, reported by the Surveyors of the Public Lands. Six miles to great numbers of these little monuments of ancient storms scattered every whereover the ground. Whether the greater extent of treeless country in former times was owing tonatural or artificial causes, it is now difficult to determine; but the great extentof ancient works within the depths of the present forests, would seem to indicatethat the country was at least kept free from trees by the agency of man. Many of these tree-mounds were observed on and about the ancient works. Another curious circumstance that may be noticed by inspection of the figures ofmounds accompanying this work, is the gradual transition, as it were, or change ofone form into another. Examples can be found of all forms, from a true circle,through the oval and elongated oval, to the oblong mounds and long , there is a succession of mounds, from the simple ridge
Size: 1743px × 1433px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublisherwashingtonsmithson
