Edgewood College Honors Ancient Effigy Mound Culture on Campus

Preserving the Legacy: Efforts to Protect and Celebrate the Historical Mounds  

Edgewood College occupies land formerly inhabited by the mound builders and recognizes the physical remnants and the spirit of their rich culture. Effigy Mound culture is believed to have existed during the Late Woodland Period (650 – 1200 A.D.). 

Ninety percent of the world’s effigy mounds are concentrated in Southern Wisconsin. Dane County was originally home to approximately 2,000 to 3,000 mounds, but around eighty percent of these effigy mounds have been completely destroyed and the need for their preservation is critical. 

These earthen sculptures were constructed by first creating an outline; the use of various shapes and the representation of animals holds significance to the Effigy Mound culture. The high-quality soil used to build the mound was transported from distant areas as evidenced by soil samples taken from the mounds. Very few ornamental pieces are found inside the mounds, with exception of shells, pottery shards, copper, and occasionally burial remains. 

The placement of effigy mounds often tells a story, although the story of the Bird Effigy Mound is currently unknown. The Bird Mound was originally surveyed with a wingspread of 260 feet, but currently measures 200 feet due to the construction of the sidewalk and Woodrow Street. The Edgewood College campus is currently home to several conical, linear, and effigy mounds, including one bird, one bear, and one panther mound. 

Since 1927, when Edgewood College was first established, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters have vigorously pursued efforts to preserve the mounds across campus. Today, we continue this tradition by using best practices when caring for the mounds and engaging the local community in preservation efforts. 

Honoring the Ho-Chunk Nation and their Historical Significance at Edgewood College 

Enacted on October 8, 2018, the administration at Edgewood College created an important Land Recognition Statement acknowledging that the 55 acres of the Edgewood Campus exists on our local first Nation’s land, the Ho-Chunk. This celebration invited in the local Indigenous community, including many from the Ho-Chunk community, formally enacting the Land Recognition Statement and celebrating the accomplishments of the Indigenous People of Wisconsin. 

Land Recognition Statement 

We recognize the sacred land upon which Edgewood College exists. Our Dominican heritage, educational mission, and core values call us to be stewards of this land and the Native mounds located throughout our campus. We respectfully acknowledge our local First Nation, the Ho-Chunk, and the additional 11 Indigenous Nations of Wisconsin that have shaped our state’s history and our local community. 

Land Recognition Statement – Ho-Chunk translation 

Mąąnąkre, hanąąc wakącąkže aire. Teejopregi, Edgewood Collegera, eegi mįįnąkra, že’e heesge harukosire wa’ųanąąkwi. Waagax hojoci xetera hacįja howaawajiwira, jaagu wagigųsikjera, anąga jaagu cooweeja hakerewira, mąąnąkre haiš’akikjawi heesgeže wa’ųąkra, anąga mąąnąkre eegi, wąąkšiks’akra wooxe t’ųųpirera, hąnąąc wiirakara nįhekjeesge wa’ųąkšąną. Hoocąkra nąga Wąąkšikhijąra hanąąc eegi stoo hįįkikicihinįhawira, že’e hąąpte’e hanąąc hirokikikere wąąkšik ho’įra, hįįkikišjek hįįwa’ųąjawi. Woo’įnąpesge!