Folklore Pamphlets, 1921-1945

              versify grounds a bird effigy and a turtle effigy are preserved. Linear and round mounds are in some of the Lake Mendota mound groups.
Many of the mounds located here have been excavated. These contained human interments of several kinds—bone re-burials, flexed or folded burials and full length burials. One mound showed evi¬ dence of human cremation. Rude stone altars and burned stones were found in some of these mortuary mounds. A stone chamber built of large lake boulders was found in one mound. One mound was constructed of layers of several different kinds of earth. Stone and copper implements, earthenware vessels and stone and shell im¬ plements and animal bones accompanied the burials in some of the mounds investigated.
Archeological researches were begun in Wisconsin by Dr. Increase A. Lapham at Milwaukee, in 1836, and continued by him and his asso¬ ciates until the date of his death in 1875. In 1850 he published the results of his investigations in a book. The Antiquities of Wisconsin. Since the year 1901 this work has been continued by The Wisconsin Archeological Society. This Society has published to date twenty- two volumes of archeological reports.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Some very interesting Indian myths and legends of Lake Mendota have been collected and published. These add very much to the aboriginal lore of this beautiful lake. At Maple Bluff, in the long ago, an Indian hunter killed and ate a "spirit raccoon" with dire results. In the deep water near Governors Island there was a den of water monsters—water spirits whose anger overturned canoes and caused other water disturbances. On the top of Fox Bluff the pow¬ erful thunderbirds, "Thunderers", sometimes rested during their flights. Kennedy Pond, or Lost lake, is a small lake lost or mis- ."placed by Earthmaker when he created and distributed the lakes of Wisconsin. At Merrill Springs there is an Indian medicine and wish¬ ing spring. Eagle Heights was the place of abode in Indian days of a "spirit horse" whose form could be seen to rise above this high hill on misty days. To this vicinity the Indians went to fast and pray and to obtain the "blessings" of this spirit. A spirit abode was at Second Point near the present University Summer Session camp ground. An Observatory Hill legend tells of an Indian girl whose lover went away with a war party. There are other Indian folklore tales about great Lake Mendota.