Iva Site facts for kids

The Iva Site is an ancient place in Wisconsin, near the Mississippi River. It's where archaeologists have found interesting clues about people who lived there long ago. This site was first reported in 1979. Later digs uncovered a special type of earth mound called an effigy mound, shaped like an animal. They also found many clay pots that seem to be from the Middle Mississippian people, or copies of their designs. Experts believe the Iva Site might have been a place where Middle Mississippian tribes and Late Woodland people from the upper Midwest gathered for a peaceful feast.

Digging Up History: The 2002-2003 Finds

Before the early 2000s, the Iva Site was only known from a quick look in 1979. That first study didn't find any clear signs of the Mississippian people. However, looking at nearby areas suggested there was a large village of the Oneota people, as well as signs of Late Woodland and Middle Mississippian activity.

In 2002, new digging began because a new neighborhood was planned for the area. This construction would have disturbed the ancient site. During these digs, about thirty ancient features were uncovered. Many of these were storage pits used by the Oneota people in the northern part of the site. There were also signs of activity from both the Late Woodland and Middle Mississippian people.

Pottery and Artifacts

Among the dirt piles from the digging, archaeologists found many pieces of pottery typical of the Late Woodland period. These included pieces of "Angelo Punctated" pottery and "Madison ware." Madison pottery often had a special twisted design on its neck and certain rim styles.

They also found a piece of an "Aztalan Collared" pottery rim. This type of pottery dates back to around 1050 to 1150 A.D. It was quite rare in the "driftless area" (an area of Wisconsin not covered by glaciers) where it was found, even though it was more common in southeastern Wisconsin, which was heavily glaciated.

Middle Mississippian pottery was also discovered. This included rims strengthened with sand (grit-tempered) and crushed shells (shell-tempered). The shell-tempered pieces were found in both shiny and red-colored types.

What Was Found at the Site Itself

The main digging area contained mostly broken pieces and rims of Angelo Punctated pottery. There were also pieces of shell-tempered Middle Mississippian pots, including two "Ramey Incised" jars. These jars had special carved designs.

Another broken piece of "Madison Cord-Impressed" pottery was found, decorated with horizontal cord marks. The site also had an effigy mound, which is a mound of earth shaped like an animal. This type of mound was common among both the Late Woodland and Middle Mississippian societies.

Besides pottery, archaeologists found natural remains like good cuts of deer meat, rice, and tobacco. They also found what they believe was a special dog burial, possibly part of a ceremony. Some of the pottery found seemed to be a mix of designs from both the Late Woodland and Middle Mississippian groups.

Why the Iva Site is Important

The time between 1050 and 1200 A.D. was a period of big change. It marked the end of the Late Woodland Effigy mound culture in Wisconsin's Driftless area. Usually, there wasn't much interaction between the Middle Mississippian tribes from the south and the Late Woodland groups from the north. Also, there wasn't much evidence of Middle Mississippian people moving far north.

When the Iva Site was discovered in the northern part of the Driftless Area, it was special because it had a mix of pottery pieces from both Middle Mississippian and Late Woodland groups. The fact that these pottery pieces were found close together, along with other items suggesting a special gathering with food, made experts believe that these two groups met here.

Scientists studied the Middle Mississippian pottery and think it was brought to Salt Lake Coulee from the American Bottom area (a region near the Mississippi River) through trade. It's not clear if the Late Woodland items were already there before the Middle Mississippian people arrived, or if the site was a place where they worked together. However, it's generally agreed that their meeting led to the creation of new pottery designs that mixed styles from both groups.

One idea is that the Iva Site was where the Mississippians and Late Woodland people had a peaceful feast. However, this gathering might not have led to lasting connections, as there aren't many other big Mississippian sites found in that area.