While there is no conclusive evidence for what the effigy mounds represent, or even that they represent anything. I would like to believe that the effigy mounds of Wisconsin are there to preserve the human connection to the natural world. Often in modern society humans believe they are out of the confines of nature. We are buried in caskets, travel in cars, and prey indoors. Most humans are very disconnected with nature. Effigy mounds represent a different time. They represent a time when humans wanted to live in harmony with nature instead of trying to control it.
Building effigy mounds could have been the peoples attempt to worship by working with nature. They created sacred mounds in a sacred way. Effegy mounds seem reminiscent of the way caves were painted by the Upper Paleolithic people. Not only was it a sacred object but the act of making them could have been considered sacred also.
I admire the possibility that was suggested in the reading that “physical modeling of an orderly universe, the effigy mound people sought to call on the power of their spirit being to restore harmony to a quickly changing world” (Birmingham, 141). It represents how humans called on nature to help them instead of paving over nature. The effigy worked with nature. In there appearance from the ground they almost blend into the natural surroundings. But seen from above some effigy mounds come to life and take the shape of an animal. To me this reflects what most people can’t see in nature. If one looks quickly from one perspective it is easy to take nature for granted. But if one pauses and gains a new perspective they can take in their surroundings and truly appreciate the beauty of our natural world. I like to think that these effigy mounds were a tribute to nature and the beauty it contains.
Image from: Ancient? Mysterious? Exploring the effigy mounds of Governor Nelson state park By Siegfried Spelter
Image from: Ancient? Mysterious? Exploring the effigy mounds of Governor Nelson state park By Siegfried Spelter
I like the way you connected the making of effigy mounds with the making of cave art and I agree that the making of the mound itself seemed to be an important aspect of mound building culture rather than just the end product itself being the most important part. While in the case of effigy mounds the end result may still have still been important to promote harmony etc. and perhaps the end result was less important in cave art, I still think that it is important to point out that the act itself is significant and vital to their particular belief systems.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a lot of great points in your post, but how does the process of building a burial mound connect with nature spiritually in a religious way or if any. In the book, Birmingham talks a lot about the spirits of these effigy mounds and how the form and location of these effigy mounds is really important to the role of this ceremonial process. Do these mounds have anything to do with religion or is it completely spiritual while connecting with nature? I think Geertz's definition of religion is a huge tell tail whether it has to do with religion. And also makes solid grounds when comparing these effigy mounds to some sort of super natural being or religion.
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