Busy Summer at Aztalan State Park

Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the prehistoric Mississippian village of Aztalan is well-known as one of the most important archaeological sites in Wisconsin – and this summer is shaping up to be a very busy time for archaeologists at Aztalan!

Photo Credit: Dan Seurer :: http://danseurer.com/aztalan-archeology-2013/

Three teams will be conducting investigations at Aztalan from early June through mid-August:

• Michigan State (Currently underway and continuing through June 28th). Dr. Lynne Goldstein is directing excavations of the “Gravel Knoll” and an area outside the main palisade line, just west of the southwest platform mound;  investigations are on-going from Tuesday mornings through Sundays at noon.

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (July 22nd – August 17th).  Dr. John Richards will be continuing his research, excavating along Aztalan’s banks and shoreline areas on the west side of the Crawfish River.

• DNR/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (dates TBA).  Working with Dr. Richards of UWM, Wisconsin DNR is supporting geoarchaeological investigations of various areas within the site, on both sides of the Crawfish River.

This will be the most active archaeological field season at Aztalan in decades – a perfect time to visit the site and see real archaeologists “in action” (note that Michigan State is working on weekends).  

For additional information, please contact Mark Dudzik, Departmental Archaeologist, at mark.dudzik@wi.gov

"Ancient Whitewater mounds see rebirth"

The Whitewater Effigy Mounds Preserve in Whitewater, Wisconsin, was recently featured in the local news. The mounds were destined to be destroyed by construction of US Highway 12 until a group of local residents came to the rescue and convinced the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that the mounds needed to be preserved. In 1974, the site became a city park. The Preserve protects 13 earthworks.

The park features numerous signs and plaques that serve to educate visitors about the mounds. The city's plans for the Preserve include ongoing restoration and maintenance. A new entrance sign has been installed, and the are plans to improve all the signage at some point in the future. A ground cover conversion has begun, to change from mowed turf to prairie plants.

See the news article itself for more. The article also features Wisconsin Archeological Society member Richard Helmick.

http://www.wdtimes.com/news/local/article_976521c8-14d0-11e2-9218-0019bb2963f4.html

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Mariann Scott and Richard Helmick are shown at the sign that greets visitors to the Whitewater Effigy Mounds Preserve, located on Whitewater’s west side, just south of U.S. Highway 12 on Indian Mounds Parkway.

Source: STEVE SHARP/Daily Times

 

To submit a news story, send an email to contact@wiarcheologicalsociety.org with "News Submission" in the subject line.