Archaeological atlas of Michigan [by] Wilbert B. Hinsdale...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTIES

During the season of 1929 the University Museums employed
a representative archaeologist, Mr. Fred Dustin, who spent several months in a survey in association with members of the state
Isle Royale survey. While upon the ground Mr. Dustin charted
the island. The map is based upon his chartings and reports. Besides examining the old copper mines, Mr. Dustin located eight
village sites. He was able to trace a trail the entire length of
the island about midway between the two shores.
Mr. Henry Gillman, Smithsonian Report, 1873, describes
numerous old mining pits upon Triangle Island that he examined
in 1872. See notes upon Houghton and Ontonagon counties.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages ---------------13
Mound ----------------- 1
Mines, copper_-very numerous
TOWNSHIPS

trail appears to terminate at Lapeer, but, no doubt, it passed to
the northwest and joined the fragment of the trail that cuts Marathon Township from southeast to northwest. Although the government surveyors' notes do not warrant completing it for its entire length, the fragments noted upon the map are presumably
parts of a continuous path going to the Cass River, which it
crossed at Tuscola, in Tuscola County. From this ford it continued to the northwest, crossed the Saginaw River where Bay
City now stands, and connected with the trail following the west
shore of Saginaw Bay.
According to a rather vague report, there was a group of
mounds near the south line of Imlay Township somewhere upon
Belle River.
From the verified locations of villages and burying grounds,
the inference is justified that Lapeer County had a considerable
quota of Indians. The topographical situation also lends strength
to this statement.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages ----------15
Burying grounds -- 6
Mounds ----------15

1.
2.
3.

Houghton
Eagle Harbor
Grant

4. Sherman
5. Allouez

Isle Royale
6. Part of Eagle Harbor Township
7. Part of Houghton Township

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

TOWNSHIPS
Rich 10.
Burlington 11.
Marathon 12.
Deerfield 13.
North Branch 14.
Burnside 15.
Oregon 16.
Mayfield 17.
Arcadia 18.

Goodland
Elba
Lapeer
Attica
Imlay
Hadley
Metamora
Dryden
Almont

LAKE COUNTY
(Map 11)
A careful survey has been made and some excavation done in
Lake Township by members of the Museum staff. This township
had evidently been occupied by a considerable number of Indians
in time long gone by. One group of six mounds, one of three,
one of two, an isolated mound, and four village sites were located
in the vicinity of the group of lakes situated in the township.
Some of the mounds still remain. In Section 36, SE. ~ of
SE. V4, Eden Township, there were at least two mounds: two more
were in SE. ~, Section 29, and a village site was in SE. ~, Section
2 5, Pinora Township.
More careful scrutiny and inquiry in the Little Manistee
River valley will probably reveal several more sites. See notes
on Newaygo County.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages --- 7
Mounds -19
TOWNSHIPS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Elk
Eden
Dover
Sauble
Peacock
Newkirk
Ellsworth
Sweetwater

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Webber
Cherry Valley
Pinora
Lake
Pleasant Plains
Yates
Chase

LEELANAU COUNTY
(Map 13)
A trail extended along the west shore of Grand Traverse Bay;
another trail ran from the point of the peninsula to the old village
at Leland and probably around Glen Lake to Crystal Lake and
the mouth of Betsey River, in Benzie County.
A survey of both sides of Lake Leelanau, for a distance of
twenty-five miles, shows that every prominent point commanding
a view of the open water, if not swampy or otherwise unapproachable for canoes, was the site of an Indian camp or village.
Traces of a trail along the south shore of the western lobe of
Glen Lake were distinctly discernible seventy-five years ago.
There was a village upon this trail a few rods west of the south end
of the bridge which now spans the narrows. Large quantities of
pottery were found upon a half-acre at this point, which, sad to
relate, have been scattered. A similar find was made across the
lake about sixty rods northeast of the north end of the bridge.
Sleeping Bear Point, upon which is an immense sand dune, has
many traditions, mostly legendary. It has been a fertile field for
relic hunters. No doubt it was an inviting lookout for Indians.
The exposure of human bones by shifting winds indicates that
bodies were buried in the sands of the dune. Tradition has it that
the "Bear" was the scene of a terrific battle "in the long ago."
Other points of archaeological interest are indicated upon the map.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages ---------- 5
Burying grounds _ 3
TOWNSHIPS

LAPEER COUNTY
(Map 10)
A number of intelligent persons have affirmed that Flint River
had evidences "all along" of Indian works. They were probably
as correct as they were indefinite. A reconnaissance led to the
locating of two mounds in Marathon Township, where a trail
crossed the river; a village site is located upon the same trail at the
south end of Hemingway Lake.
A trail from the villages at the mouth of the Clinton River
at Anchor Bay, Lake St. Clair, through Macomb County, across
the northeastern part of Oakland County, entered Lapeer County
almost directly south of the city of Lapeer. Upon the map this

1. Leelanau
2. Leland
3. Sutton's Bay
4. Glen Arbor
5. Cleveland
6. Centerville

7. Bingham
8. Empire
9. Kasson
10. Solon
11. Elmwood

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