–submitted by Valerie Renk
Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Gary Maier worked 31 years at Lake Mendota Health Institute, becoming familiar with the effigy mounds there. Mounds and effigies (mounds shaped as animals) were created in our area at the highest rate by the Ho-Chunk between 750-1250 AD. Golfers and the mental health community seem to be protecting them, as there are major groupings at Blackhawk County Club and Mendota.
There were hundreds of mounds in this area. Fortunately, many were documented; unfortunately many were grave robbed.
Our Rotary Club is working with Maier to plan a respectful future visit to the Institute’s mounds. If you’d like to be added to the list for a tour, contact the Rotary office at 608-255-9164 or rotaryoffice@rotarymadison.org.
If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-1E97H9eYs&t=57s.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 