Did you know there was an archaeological excavation site south of Fort Atkinson? The Finch Excavation Site, studied by the Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center since 2009, will be the topic of a talk by Richard H. Kubicek, Principal Investigator, at the Hoard’s Historians quarterly enrichment program on Thurs., June 21, 2-3:30pm (at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson, 401 Whitewater Avenue). It’s a free program, although donations to the Museum are always welcome.
There have been a few articles in area newspapers about this site, including “Archaeologists uncover prehistoric Indian site” (by James Debilzen, for the Daily Union, Dec. 1, 2009), “Anthropologists explore treasures near Lake Koshkonong” (by Neil Johnson, for the Janesville Gazette, May 2, 2010), and “Koshkonong dig yields wealth of artifacts” (Neil Johnson, Janesville Gazette, Sept. 4, 2010).
According to these articles, tools and pottery consistent with cultures from the Middle Woodland, Late Woodland, and some items from the Mississippian Era were uncovered at the Finch Site. Want to know more about these cultures? Andersen Library can help. Search HALCAT to find books such as The Woodland Indians of the western Great Lakes (3rd-floor Main Collection, E78 .E2 R5 1983) and Twelve millennia: Archaeology of the upper Mississippi River Valley (3rd-floor Main Collection, E78.M75 T44 2003). Search article databases such as America: History and Life with Full Text to find articles including “The archaeological contexts and themes of Middle Woodland symbolic representation in the American Bottom” (Illinois Archaeology: Journal of the Illinois Archaeology Survey, 2008, vol.20, pp.1-47) and The Woodland tradition (Wisconsin Archeologist, 1997, vol.78:no.1/2, pp.141-201; available in print in Andersen Library’s 1st-floor Bound Periodicals collection).
Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding materials.
