Morrison Mounds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Morrison Mounds
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| Location | Address restricted |
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| NRHP reference No. | 73000991 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1973 |
Morrison Mounds is a special historical place located north of Battle Lake, Minnesota, in the United States. It has 22 ancient burial mounds that were built by early Native American people. These mounds are very old, with some dating back to about 800 B.C. This makes them the oldest known mound group in Minnesota based on scientific dating.
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What Are the Morrison Mounds?
The Morrison Mounds are like ancient hills made by people long ago. They were built as burial sites for important members of their communities. There are 22 mounds in total at this site.
Types of Mounds
Most of the mounds at Morrison Mounds are conical, meaning they are shaped like a cone or a small hill. There are 20 of these cone-shaped mounds. Besides these, there is also one mound with a flat top and another that is long and stretched out. These different shapes might tell us something about the people who built them or the time they were made.
How Old Are They?
Scientists have used a method called radiocarbon dating to figure out how old the Morrison Mounds are. This method looks at how much carbon is left in very old materials, like wood or bones. The oldest date found at this site is around 800 B.C. This makes Morrison Mounds the oldest known group of burial mounds in the entire state of Minnesota.
Who Built the Mounds?
The people who built the Morrison Mounds lived in the area a very long time ago. They were part of a larger group of people who also built similar mounds in nearby areas. Even though the Morrison Mounds are the oldest, their building style is much like other mounds found around Otter Tail Lake.
The similarities in how the mounds were built suggest that these different groups of people were connected. They might have been part of the same culture or shared similar beliefs. Some common features found in these mounds include:
- A central pit where burials were placed.
- Logs placed over the burial pit to protect it.
- Evidence that some bodies might have been partly cremated (burned) at the site before burial.
These shared building methods show that the people who built these mounds had similar traditions. They likely built them over many years, passing down their knowledge and customs.
Protecting the Mounds
Because of their historical importance, the Morrison Mounds site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This list helps protect important places in the United States. Being on this list means the site is recognized for its value to history and archaeology. It helps make sure these ancient burial grounds are preserved for future generations to learn from and respect.
