Potosi Badger Huts Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Potosi Badger Huts Site
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A portion of the site.
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| Location | Potosi, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 9.8 acres (4.0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001532 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1996 |
The Potosi Badger Huts Site is a special place in Potosi, Wisconsin, that helps us learn about the past. It's an archeological site, which means it's a place where people find clues about how people lived long ago. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 because it has the potential to teach us a lot in the future.
This site covers about 9.8 acres. It includes the remains of two old buildings. There are also about 100 "diggings," which are holes or shafts. These might have been used for mining. The site also has a possible adit, which is a tunnel dug into a hillside.
Uncovering the Past at Potosi
The Potosi Badger Huts Site gives us a peek into the early 1830s. It was likely abandoned by the late 1840s. This was when the first big rush for lead mining in the area ended. The site is located on top and sides of a ridge. This ridge looks over the village of Potosi.
What Are Badger Huts?
The name "Badger Huts" comes from the early lead miners. These miners were sometimes called "badgers." This was because they dug into the earth like badgers. The site has old rock walls that might be from these miners' homes.
The stones are covered with moss. Dirt has filled the spaces between them. This suggests the walls are very old. People who have lived in Potosi for a long time believe these are the remains of early miners' huts.
A Mining Mystery: The Structures
Even though they are called "Badger Huts," these structures don't look like other homes from that time. One interesting question is why a miner would build a home on a steep hill. There is no water source nearby. The village was right below the hill.
Because of this, some people wonder if these buildings were actually huts. They might have been small buildings used for other purposes. Perhaps they protected mining equipment. Or maybe they stored gunpowder needed for mining. Archeologists hope to find more clues in the future. These clues could help solve the mystery of the Potosi Badger Huts Site.
