The Hauntingly Beautiful Place In Wisconsin That Humans Left Behind

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The river would have provided people with water for drinking and washing, as well as fish, mussels, turtles, and muskrats.

It appears that one was used as a burial mound, with three tiers. One mound was used to store corn, though it's not known if the corn was stored for food, or for ceremonial purposes. The purpose of the third mound is still unclear.

Another group of smaller mounds lines up to the north. These mounds contained a pit filled with gravel and dirt, with a large post sunk in the middle. Archaeologists call these mounds "marker mounds," because they may have been used to mark the settlement's border, or as relay posts for messages.

They were able to find plenty of food by hunting and fishing, and they established agricultural fields here as well. The people lived in pole dwellings with walls made of grass and clay and roofs of bark. The dwellings were built around a central town square where residents would have gathered for social or religious purposes.

The ancient Mississippian people planted corn, squash, sunflowers, gourds and many other crops. In the distance, you can see another flat-topped mound.

The fences would have provided security for the settlement; they have been reconstructed for visitors today.

No one is sure why the people abandoned this place sometime around 1200 AD. In fact, the entire Mississippian culture disappeared completely from the midwest around the same time. While researchers continue to seek information about this culture and its people, the state park provides a peaceful, beautiful place to visit.

The park is open from 6 AM to 10 PM, every day. Visit the state park's website for more information.