Effigy Mounds Administrative History

Significant Areas Not Included in Effigy Mounds National Monument

The FTD Site

There are several areas close to, but not on, monument land that have long been of interest to Effigy Mounds personnel as well as Park Service and other archeologists, historians, and preservationists. Probably the most important of these is site 13 AM 210 (the so—called "FTD site") which lies between the present monument headquarters complex and the Mississippi River to the east. It is situated on land owned by the state of Iowa, and the Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over an ill—defined "normal high water mark."

The FTD site may be one of the most important archeological sites in northeastern Iowa, as it seems to have been the location of camps or villages from the French fur—traders of the historical era back through the Oneota and Woodland and perhaps to the Archaic period, with a possibility that even earlier levels might exist. Only two village sites relating to the Effigy Mound Builders' culture are known to exist in the entire four—state area where effigy-shaped tumuli are located. Because of the scarcity of information concerning the Effigy Mound Builders, and because the FTD site contains several stratified components, its preservation is essential. [54]

The Nazekaw terrace on which the site is located seems to have extended considerably further into the river before ponding and canalization for navigation purposes artificially raised the water level. In 1980, unusually low river levels exposed portions of the site not seen before. [55] The state historic preservation office authorized Dr. Clark Mallam of Luther College to collect surface artifacts exposed by the low—water conditions. [56] The following year, aware that the wash from passing barges was causing serious erosion damage, the Corps of Engineers constructed a rock dike to keep the wash from barge traffic from further damaging the site. [57]

The FTD site extends for more than fifteen hundred feet along the Mississippi River, and for about two thousand along the foot of the bluff adjacent to the national monument. [58] It is possible that, at one time, the whole triangle bordered by the river, Highway 76, and the foot of the bluffs was archeologically rich, but farming and railroad and road construction have destroyed large sections of this terrace. Because the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, in building their elevated roadbed cross the terrace, used material taken from borrow pits on each side of the railroad embankment, the pits are now ponds. Artifacts ranging from brick to primitive stone tools, found when the elevated roadbed was built, have been lost, scattered, or destroyed. In 1892 Theodore H. Lewis of the Lewis-Hill survey recorded two bear effigies, "one ruined tailless animal, twelve embankments, one club—shaped embankment and thirty—seven round mounds" on the terrace west of the present railroad line, near where monument headquarters is today. In 1926 Ellison Orr recorded only two bears and seven conicals in the same area. At the present time three conicals and possibly two linear mounds exist there. [59]

The National Park Service considered requesting a change in the monument's boundaries to include the FTD site as early as 1964, but Regional Director Lemuel ("Lon") Garrison felt it was too soon to ask Congress for another boundary adjustment. In March 1967, Superintendent Stuart H. ("Mike") Maule asked the Regional Director to pursue a boundary change to include the FTD site, the Ferguson tract outside the monument, and some mounds on the neighboring Bruckner property. [60] There is no record of the Region's response; no action was taken. Superintendent Milton Thompson requested the Regional Director seek authorization to add the Ferguson parcel only in 1970, [61] indicating that hope for adding the FTD site had dwindled.

The Ferguson Tract

The two bear effigies of the Reinhardt mound group were mentioned above. Named for long—time Effigy Mounds seasonal employee William H. ("Bill") Reinhardt, this group comprises two known bear effigies and a possibility of five to six more bear—shaped tumuli. [62] The mounds are located on top of a steep—sided and narrow ridge in the portion of the Ferguson tract outside the national monument, just over two air miles west—northwest of monument headquarters, with the unexplored five or six effigies along the crest of the same ridge about a half—mile east of the first two. The two explored mounds are unusual in that they are lying on their left sides, whereas almost all the other animal effigies are portrayed as lying on their right sides. Exploration and excavation might reveal other and perhaps even more significant features to distinguish these mounds from others. Clearly, the mounds should be preserved, and since their discovery in 1974 there have been repeated, but so far unsuccessful, attempts to bring the area under the protection of the National Park Service or the Iowa Conservation Commission.

The portion of the Ferguson tract outside the national monument is of general interest to Effigy Mounds personnel because of several rock shelters and other habitation sites; whether these sites are historic or prehistoric is unknown at this time. The area is also of interest because of the flora and fauna it contains. Most cultural and natural resources managers agree that destruction of the forest on the Ferguson tract would significantly affect the biota of the national monument. The monument is a potential nesting site for the bald eagle, a federally listed endangered species, and for the red—shouldered hawk, listed as endangered in the state of Iowa. These birds require large expanses of natural wood lands; elimination of the Ferguson tract forest would almost certainly reduce the attractiveness of the area as a nesting site. Similarly, logging the tract would impair the habitat of the river otter, a threatened species in the state of Iowa. The impact on smaller species of fauna and flora is harder to assess, but an effect on such species as the state—threatened jeweled shooting star (known to exist in the Ferguson tract) is very likely. [63]

Historical Archeological Sites

Other areas of concern for Effigy Mounds personnel are the Red House Landing site and, to a lesser extent, the Johnson Landing site, both on the Mississippi River at or near the northern end of the north unit. Red House Landing, was the site of one of the very early white settlements in Iowa, a steamboat landing and refueling stop, and one of the major locations for clamming for the pearl-button industry around the turn of the century. In addition to shell mounds of historic and, apparently, prehistoric vintage, there are historic Indian, fur trader, and settler habitation sites as well as indications of prehistoric Native American rock shelter and other camp sites. [64]

One source claims the town of Nazekaw was platted but never developed. Others claim there was settlement in the town; at one time during the late nineteenth century a large steam gristmill is alleged to have been located there, and the 1900 census showed nearly 300 people in Nazekaw, although all 300 might not have been living within the platted boundaries of the town. In addition to whatever remains of the town and its buildings, there are scattered indications of Native American habitation sites in the same general area, including some reported to contain copper artifacts. Parts of this townsite are included in monument lands in the vicinity of the visitor center, while other parts are on the railroad or highway rights—of—way, and part is on Iowa common lands along the Mississippi River. Parts of the Nazekaw townsite have been destroyed by railroad and highway construction. [65]

The "Highway 13 rock shelter" probably should have been renamed the Highway 76 rock shelter when the state road was renumbered. It is situated on the highway right-of-way just off monument land, at the approximate midpoint of the south unit's eastern boundary. It was partly excavated once, then severely damaged when the highway was widened, and later "lost" for several years. The rock shelter has been partially excavated and still contains artifacts of considerable interest. [66]

The Jefferson Davis sawmill site is on the Yellow River, some three miles upstream from the river's mouth. The re mains, which are few, were discovered by Ellison Orr in the 1940s, and at present the ruins of both the mill foundation and the log dam are covered by the artificially high water from the pool behind Lock and Dam No. 10. There is very little left of the buildings that once were on the site. [67]

Most of these sites are outside the boundaries of Effigy Mounds National Monument, and at the present time there seems little likelihood of further boundary adjustments. Some of the areas, such as the FTD and the Red House Landing sites, have a direct relationship to the monument's mission and are badly in need of some form of protection. Some parts of these two areas, as well as portions of others, are located on Iowa's common lands, which can be purchased by anyone at any time. The other sites discussed above relate less directly to the primary significance of Effigy Mounds National Monument, but they, too, are valuable and should be considered for protection.