Effigy Mounds and Religion

Clifford Geertz’s definition of religion is as follows:  “A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.”

 

            In reading the book Indian Mounds of Wisconsin  (written by Robert A. Birmingham and Leslie E. Eisenberg), the mounds of dirt created by the natives show us some form of their religion.  In the Late Woodland era (700 AD-1200 AD), people living in the southern Wisconsin area created hundreds of effigy mounds that’s scattered the landscape.  The Early and Mid-Woodland era consisted mainly of burial mounds.  Then these effigy mounds began to spring up everywhere. Many archeologists believe that the mounds have religious connotations. It is especially prominent in the Ho-Chunk tribe.

 

“A system of symbols….”

 

The shapes of the mounds can be separated into four categories:  Sky, earth, water and unknown (Linear and Conical).  The sky mounds have bird-like shapes.  The Ho-Chunk tribe is divided into two classes and the upper class has symbols such as the thunderbird and pigeon that represent them.  The earth mounds are land animals dominated by the bear.  The water mounds are long-tailed creatures that look similar to tadpoles.  Land and earth creatures represent the lower class of the Ho-Chunk.  The Linear and Conical mounds are found scattered around all other types of mounds.  They could be seen as dividing lines between the sky, earth and water mounds

 

“…which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long lasting moods and motivations in men…”

 

The societal structure of the Ho-Chunk is governed by these symbols.  The people of different classes all have different jobs.  For instance, the Hawk of the Sky represents the warriors.  It shows the social boundaries within the society.

 

“…by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence…”

 

The mounds form a concept of the order of existence by displaying balance.  The natives were known for living in harmony with nature.  Many of the mounds are built within the vicinity of each spectrum of mounds.  This shows that they had an understanding of the need for balance.  Also, many of the mounds are built near natural resources necessary for life.  This raises the thought that the mounds helped lead people through life by helping protect their life source.

 

“…and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.”

 

The Ho-Chunk natives built their society around the beliefs of these symbols.  This helped their society run smoothly, which in turn gave people more reason to believe.  It is a constant cycle.  These symbols also separated themselves from other tribes and gave their society an identity.

 

So there you have it.  By Clifford Geertz’s definition, the mounds were the basis for the ho-chunk tribe’s religious beliefs.