Throughout the American Midwest, prehistoric Woodland cultures built impressive mound complexes for thousands of years, but effigy mounds are relatively rare. Not so at Effigy Mounds National Monument in eastern Iowa.
An effigy mound is a raised, earthen pile shaped to resemble or symbolize an animal, person, or other figures. Most mounds created by North America’s mound-building cultures were built for ceremonial or burial purposes and often took the shape of cones or walls. The cultures of this region surrounding southern Wisconsin specialized in building effigy mounds. Today, we call the culture that built them the Effigy Moundbuilders.
The mounds are considered sacred by 20 tribes culturally associated with the Monument.
There are more than 200 mounds preserved within the Monument, though not all are shaped as effigies. 31 of them are shaped like birds and bears, the most common shape for the region’s effigy mounds.
The largest is the Great Bear Mound, measuring 42 meters long and about 1 meter high. Remember to never walk on the mound!
It’s believed the mounds in Effigy Mounds National Monument were built sometime in the first millennium. It’s unclear what the purpose of the mounds was, but it’s likely they were constructed for ceremonial purposes.
There’s more to the park than the mounds. 14 miles of hiking trails take visitors through woods, meadows, and wetlands.
The park is located in the Driftless Area, an unglaciated, hilly region surrounding the upper Mississippi River valley. Stunning overlooks like this one are wondrous spots to ponder what life was like here over 1,000 years ago.
To get the most out of your journey through history, check out the park’s website for an events calendar—guided tours offer more information about the mounds and interpret what life was like for the Effigy Moundbuilders.
Have you visited Effigy Mounds National Monument? What did you learn there? Let us know in the comments!
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