Big Bend in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Maney Ridge Prehistoric Effigy Mounds

Photographed by Paul F, November 9, 2010

1. Maney Ridge Prehistoric Effigy Mounds Marker

Inscription. On the ridge above this road and the Fox River lies a series of prehistoric earthworks. They represent visible remnants of both social and ritual behavior of one of Wisconsin’s unique prehistoric cultures, the Effigy Mound Indians.

The conical mounds are from the Middle Woodlands time, circa 200 BC-700 AD. The effigy and linear mounds are representative of Late Woodlands time, circa 7900 AD – 1400 AD.

Archaeological excavations reveal the use of some as burial and religious sites. Others have yielded no artifacts. What was their use? Clan symbols? Astronomical devices?

Erected 1977 by Waukesha County Historical Society. (Marker Number 31-02.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 42° 52.205′ N, 88° 11.872′ W. Marker is in Big Bend, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. It is on Big Bend Drive (Wisconsin Route 164) north of Kelsey Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Bend WI 53103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Village of Big Bend (approx. 0.8 miles away); Haseltine Cobblestone House

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(approx. 1.7 miles away); Dodges Corners Cemetery (approx. 2½ miles away); Town of Vernon (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Vernon (approx. 3.3 miles away); Old Muskego Town Hall (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Devil's Teapot (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Electric Interurban Muskego Centre Station (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bend.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Muskego (was approx. 3.3 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Paul F, November 9, 2010

2. Maney Ridge Prehistoric Effigy Mounds Marker

Photographed by Paul F, November 9, 2010

3. Maney Ridge Prehistoric Effigy Mounds Marker

Ridge is to the right and behind marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 4,064 times since then and 165 times this year. Last updated on March 4, 2021, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.