Vilas Circle Bear Effigy Mound and the Curtis Mounds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vilas Circle Bear Effigy Mound and the Curtis Mounds
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bear Mound Park and adjacent property, Madison, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 500-1200 A.D. |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000078 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1974 |
The Vilas Circle Bear Effigy Mound and the Curtis Mounds are amazing ancient earthworks located in Madison, Wisconsin. These special mounds were built by Native American people many centuries ago. They are like giant sculptures made from earth. One mound is shaped like a bear, and the others are long, straight lines. They offer important clues about the people who lived in this area long ago.
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What Are These Ancient Mounds?
These mounds are very old structures created by people known as Mound Builders. These civilizations lived in North America between 500 and 1200 A.D. That's a long time ago, even before Christopher Columbus arrived in America! The mounds were not just random piles of dirt. They were carefully shaped and built for important purposes.
The Bear Effigy Mound
The most famous of these is the Bear Effigy Mound. An "effigy" means it's shaped like something, and this one looks just like a bear! It's located in a public place called Bear Mound Park, so people can visit it. Most of the bear shape is still there, except for a small part of one leg.
In the Mound Builder culture, bear-shaped mounds were very meaningful. They often represented the earth and humanity. Other animal shapes, like birds or lizards, were used to represent different parts of nature or beliefs.
The Curtis Mounds
Close to the Bear Effigy Mound are the Curtis Mounds. These are different because they are not shaped like animals. Instead, they are long and straight, like lines or ridges in the ground. The Curtis Mounds are on private property next to the park. Originally, there were two of these linear mounds, but today only one of them still exists.
Why Were These Mounds Built?
Scientists and historians believe these mounds were built for important reasons. The main purpose of many of these ancient earthworks was to serve as burial sites. This means they were places where people were buried after they died. Building these large mounds would have taken a lot of effort and cooperation from the community. This shows how important these sites were to the people who built them.
Protecting Our History
These mounds are very important historical sites. They help us understand the rich history of Native American cultures in Wisconsin. Because of their historical value, the Vilas Circle Bear Effigy Mound and the Curtis Mounds were added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 30, 1974. This listing helps protect them and makes sure they are preserved for future generations to learn from and appreciate.
