The Antiquities of Wisconsin: As Surveyed and Described

The Antiquities of Wisconsin: As Surveyed and Described (1855)

Increase Allen Lapham (1811 â€“ 1875) was an author, scientist, and naturalist. In 1836, Lapham moved to Kilbourntown (which soon incorporated in to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin). In 1848, Lapham founded the Wisconsin Natural History Association, a predecessor of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, of which he also was a charter member.

Many of his works and early maps were used for various civil projects such as canal and railroad development. In 1844 Lapham published the first substantial book on the geography of the Wisconsin Territory. His first map of Wisconsin was made in 1846. He published many more papers and books through his life, particularly on geology, archaeology and history, and flora and fauna of Wisconsin, including publication by the Smithsonian Institution. In 1850, he discovered the Panther Intaglio Effigy Mound, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lapham was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1853.

Lapham's â€œAntiquities of Wisconsinâ€ is the result of a systematic exploration of the ancient remains of that State, undertaken by the direction and at the expense of the American Antiquarian Society; although Mr. Lapham received no other compensation for his services than the expenses actually incurred during the survey. After the survey had been completed, the Smithsonian Institution defrayed the cost of printing the work. Mr. Lapham claims to have been the first discoverer of the effigy mounds of Wisconsin, and the same year (1836) in which he noticed these structures he called public attention to them through the newspapers. He devotes six chapters to a consideration and description of the ancient mounds on the Western shore of Lake Michigan, the basins of the Pishtaka, Rock, Neenah, and Wisconsin Rivers, and the works in the vicinity of Lake Superior and other localities; chapter seven describes the contents of the mounds, gives a phrenological examination of the crania, and illustrations of aboriginal art. In the last chapter (VIII.) we have the conclusions of the author derived from the study of the works. This work forms a very important addition to the literature and study of the subject.

Lapham writes:
"ALTHOUGH the existence of aboriginal earthworks in the Western country has been known for almost a century, no mounds of imitative design intended to represent animal figures were observed, until a very recent period, when the territory now constituting the "State of Wisconsin began to attract the attention of emigrants. This was in the year 1836, and I then made known through the newspapers of the day the fact of the existence of the "turtle-mound" at Prairie Village, now Waukesha, and of other animal effigies at various places. Since that time every opportunity has been embraced to make examinations and surveys of these highly interesting relics of the past, which have been thus not unfrequently saved from oblivion. In some instances, they were destroyed immediately or within a few days after my survey."

CONTENTS.
Preface
List Of Plates
Introduction
I.â€”Ancient Works In The Vicinity Of The Western Shore Of Lake Michigan,
II.â€”Ancient Works In The Basin Of The Pishtaka River
III.â€”Ancient Works In The Basin Of Rock River,
IV.â€”Ancient Works In The Basin Of The Neenah, Or Fox River Of Green Bay,
V.â€”Ancient Works In The Basin Of The Wisconsin River
VI.â€”Ancient Works In The Vicinity Of Lake Superior, And Miscellaneous Localities,
VII.â€”Contents Of The Mounds; Remains Of Ancient Workmanship
VIII Concluding Remarks

Originally published in 1855; reformatted for the Kindle; may contain an occasional imperfection; original spellings have been kept in place.
Country USA
Author Increase Allen Lapham
Binding Kindle Edition
Format Kindle eBook
IsAdultProduct
NumberOfPages 192
PublicationDate 2016-03-20
ReleaseDate 2016-03-20

Country	USA
Author	Increase Allen Lapham
Binding	Kindle Edition
Format	Kindle eBook
IsAdultProduct
NumberOfPages	192
PublicationDate	2016-03-20
ReleaseDate	2016-03-20

The Antiquities of Wisconsin: As Surveyed and Described (1855)

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