Schilling Archeological District facts for kids

The Schilling Archeological District (also known as 21WA1) is a very old Native American site. It is located on private land in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. This special place has an area where people used to live. It also has a group of ancient mounds. These mounds are like small hills built by people long ago.

Scientists have found many old tools and pottery here. These items show that people lived here for a very long time. They were here from about 1000 BCE (Before Common Era) to 1700 CE (Common Era). This time period includes the Early Woodland Period up to the Late Prehistoric Period. The site is important for understanding history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a significant historical place. It helps us learn about early cultures and how people lived.

Exploring the Past: Archaeological History

Scientists have been studying the Schilling Archeological District for a long time. They want to learn about the people who lived there.

Early Discoveries: First Surveys

The site was first looked at in 1887. At that time, people found 31 cone-shaped mounds. They also saw signs of four other mounds that had already been destroyed. These were likely removed by people building things in the area. About 300 meters (300 yards) to the west, three more mounds were found. There was also a long, raised earth wall. But by 1911, these had also disappeared.

In 1947, a researcher dug a trench through one of the mounds. A trench is a long, narrow ditch. They did not find anything special inside. This researcher also noticed a ring of rocks. This ring might have been where a house once stood. But this rock ring also disappeared over the years.

Digging Deeper: Museum Excavations

In 1955, scientists from the Science Museum of Minnesota visited the site. They did a "surface survey." This means they looked for artifacts on the ground. They collected 17 pieces of broken pottery, called potsherds. They also found seven stone tools. These tools included four knives or scrapers, two hammerstones, and a celt. A celt is a type of ancient axe head.

Because of these finds, the museum returned in 1958. This was the biggest dig, or "excavation," at the site. They found that most of the artifacts were from the Middle Woodland Period. They also found some older and newer items. This helped them understand the different groups of people who lived there over time.

More Finds: Recent Digs

Another excavation happened in 1971. Scientists dug a trench near the middle of the mound group. They found a chert blade. Chert is a type of rock used for tools. They also found three more potsherds. And they found some rocks that had been cracked by fire. These might have been used in cooking fires. South of the mounds, they collected more pottery pieces. They also found 19 lithic flakes. Lithic flakes are small pieces of stone that break off when tools are made.

What Was Found: Artifacts

The artifacts found at Schilling Archeological District tell us a lot. They show how people lived and what they used.

Pottery: Clues from Clay

All the pottery found was made with "grit" inside the clay. Grit is like tiny bits of sand or rock. This made the pottery stronger. Other pottery was made with shell, but not here.

• Early Woodland Pottery: The oldest pottery pieces are like those found in other areas. These areas include the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River regions.
• Middle Woodland Pottery: These pieces are similar to pottery found near rivers in Southeast Minnesota.
• Late Woodland and Mississippian Pottery: The newer pottery pieces match styles from the Upper and Middle Mississippi River areas. This shows connections between different groups of people.

Other Discoveries: Life at the Site

Besides pottery and stone tools, scientists also found other things. They found "fire hearths." These are places where people built fires for cooking or warmth. They also found "refuse pits." These were like ancient trash pits. People would throw away their garbage there. These finds help scientists understand daily life at the Schilling Archeological District.