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

INTRODUCTION

T HE object of this publication is to present such archaeological
features of Michigan as can be delineated cartographically, so
far as the compilers have been able to secure exact knowledge of
locations. Every county has been visited by some member of the
staff of the University of Michigan Museums, especially for the
purpose of making field surveys, but the maps are not entirely
based upon results of such reconnaissances. A partial list of
sources of information is given in Chapter I.
Lumbermen did much miscellaneous digging and spoiled many
a burial mound and earth inclosure while they were deforesting
the lands. It is unusual to find an old site that has not been disturbed from curiosity or for the commercialization of relics. The
plow, which is the greatest tool of destruction of earthworks, is,
upon the other hand, the implement that brings to light old lodge,
camp, and villages sites.
No efforts for the conservation of antiquities have been made
by the state until within the past three years. In the paragraphs
that follow this introduction and in the notes upon the different
counties, some details appertaining to local archaeological situations are given.
Maps, to be of value, must be accurate, but the probability
of errors of omission and commission has to be taken into account.
The existence of sites in a region may be well authenticated, but,
owing to uncertainties of exact situations, some of them have not
been charted. Unless the locations could be determined within a section of land, they have, as a rule, not been included.
Geographical vagueness has been a fault of informants whose
records and reports are otherwise precise. There is also the
liability of taking as ""good authority" statements that are misleading, if not fictitious. Many-reports, oral, written, and printed,
are so obviously erroneous that they have been ignored. Oc
casionally the word "vague" occurs upon the maps, and a few sections of trails are traced with broken lines to signify a little doubt
as to the actual route.
It must not be presumed that this is an effort to produce a
treatise upon the archaeology of Michigan. Only such descriptive matter is submitted as will make clear the information presented upon the maps.
It is impossible to mention by name all the people who, through
their kindness or interest in the surveys, have rendered gratuitous
service in the assembling of data. A number of collaborators are
mentioned in the parts of this volume which specifically relate to
the counties.
The first suggestion that the Atlas be prepared came from
President Alexander G. Ruthven, who has, upon various occasions,
given valuable advice. The drawings for the maps have been prepared by Mr. Edward J. Stevens, C.E., and to him as collaborator
most grateful acknowledgment is made. Special mention must be
made of Dr. E. C. Case, Director of the Museum of Paleontology,
of the University Museums, who kindly reviewed the manuscript.
Dr. Carl E. Guthe and other members of the Museum staff have
been consulted when their several departments were able to render
assistance. Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, Curator of Fishes, of the University Museums, and Mr. M. J. DeBoer, of the Division of Fishes,
State Department of Conservation, gave of their time and knowledge in locating some of the lakes and streams of the state. Courteous assistance has been rendered by the librarians of the University, the Burton Historical Library, the William L. Clements
Library, the Michigan State Library, and the Library of Congress,
as well as by W. L. Jenks, Esq., who has a rare collection of early
maps, and Dr. L. C. Karpinski, expert in early maps.

I. METHODS AND SOURCES

N THE Introduction some general comments have been made
upon the methods employed in gathering data upon which the
maps and notes are based. The references consulted are too numerous to be cited in detail.
The trail lines upon the maps are mostly drawn from the field
notes and plats, now on file in the State Library in the Capitol at
Lansing, of the government surveyors who first divided into
townships the territory which became the state of Michigan. These
records comprise over twenty thousand pages in addition to the
plats of the twelve hundred and sixty-two townships. Every
page of the reports and charts has been examined for data that
might be incorporated in this Atlas.
There are extant many early maps of the territory, and later
of the state, some of which are very rare, that have been consulted. A few of these are the various issues of John Farmer, 0.
Risdon, Mitchell, D. Houghton, Young, Woodward, Carey, and
Lea, and, more recently, the United States Bureau of American
Ethnology and M. Quaife. The makers of the maps, when they
did not copy from each other, used the notes of the official surveyors to which reference has been made. The Great Lakes territory had been charted by many early French map-makers and
later, prior to the establishment of the United States Government,
by Englishmen. There are also maps by Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, published in Italian. The collection of maps in the General
Library of the University of Michigan, the William L. Clements
Library, the State Library at the Capitol, the Burton Historical

Library, the Library of Congress, and many charts and documents
in the libraries of Mr. W. L. Jenks of Port Huron, and other individuals have been laid under contribution. For bibliography of
maps and other publications relating to the resources, development, and history of Michigan from the earliest time to 19 17, reference is made to Streeter's bibliography. In view of the fact that
the bibliographies of Floyd B. Streeter and H. I. Smith, cited below, are very complete, only the more important references are
deemed necessary.
Hundreds of photographs taken in the field and an ever accumulating collection of citation cards on the subject of mounds
and other earthworks, village and burial sites, mines and trails
were assembled by the Museum in anticipation of this effort.
MORE IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS CONSULTED
GENERAL REPORTS, BIBLIOGRAPHIES, AND SERIALS
American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive of the
Congress of the United States. Class II. Indian Affairs, 1789-1827.
Gales and Seaton, Washington. 1832-1861.
Annual Archaeological Report. Being part of Appendix to the Report
of the Minister of Education of Ontario. L. K. Cameron, Toronto,
Canada. 1903.
Annual Reports of the Bureau of American Ethnology. Government
Printing Office, Washington. 1881-1928.
Annual Reports of the Smithsonian Institution. Government Printing
Office, Washington. 1850-.

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