Petroglyph (rock carving) of a bison nursing her calf from Gullickson’s Glenn in Jackson County, Wisconsin. Results of excavations suggest that Native Americans were occupying the rockshelter as long as 2,000 years ago, although the petroglyphs probably do not date…
Sanford Archaeological District – Non-Globular Vessel 93
May 30, 2019This non-globular vessel is unusual for local Oneota ceramics. It was found in the early 2000s at the Sanford Archaeological District in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The vessel was probably straight sided, with a rim decorated on both the interior and…
Second Fort Crawford – Projectile Point
May 16, 2019During the 1999 investigations related to Second Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin a single projectile point made of heat treated Prairie du Chien chert was recovered. The point is beveled at the tip and is probably an example…
Tainter – Torch
May 2, 2019Remnants of birch bark torches litter the relatively undisturbed margins of the floor of Tainter cave in southwestern Wisconsin. Many are burned to small fragments that were probably discarded. Several larger fragments, including a nearly complete torch, could have been…
Sanford Archaeological District – Anomalous Globular Vessels – Chevrons or Zig-Zags
April 25, 2019This vessel was recovered in the early 2000s at the Sanford Archaeological District in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This smaller, thin-walled vessel has a paste that contains very finely crushed shell. It also has a short rim (21 mm) that is…
Sand Lake Archaeological District – Copper Artifacts
April 11, 2019These four pieces of copper were found during 2008 excavations at the Sand Lake Archaeological District near Onalaska, Wisconsin. All of the copper was in good condition. The cultural affiliation of these artifacts is hard to determine, but Sand Lake…
Midway Village – 1988 Excavations – Pre-Drone
April 4, 2019Throwback Thursday – a 1988 pre-drone image of excavation at the Midway Village site north of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Sand Lake Archaeological District – Woodland Pottery – Prairie Ware
March 28, 2019This vessel section includes sherds from several excavated proveniences, reflecting the scattering of materials on the sandy terrace. The sherds have a sandy paste and a finely incised design on the smoothed exterior surface. The design has two zones of…
Second Fort Crawford – Hinges
March 21, 2019During the 1999 excavations at Second Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin sixteen door hinge and hinge fragments were found. Eleven hinges were recovered in the Officers’ Quarters, three were recovered in the Enlisted Men’s Quarters, and two in…
Running Deer – Bird and Human
March 14, 2019These petroglyphs possibly represent a bird (left) and human (right). They are from the Running Deer site in Juneau County, Wisconsin. The date for the creation of the petroglyphs cannot be determined as no cultural materials have been found at…