Grand Meadow Township in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

1. Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The process of chipping stone into tools is called "flint knapping." Native people quarried below the surface in search of chert nodules. They tested the quality by holding a nodule on a large "anvil" stone, breaking it open with a hand-sized "hammerstone." Sitting along a quarry pit edge, a knapper might finish a tool with an antler baton or pressure flaker.

Grand Meadow Chert nodule, broken open

Anvil stone

Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor's rendition of a flint knapper breaking open a nodule of Grand Meadow Chert.

Waŋhi kaptuġapi kiŋ he "flint knapping" eyapi héc̣a. Ehaŋna ikce oyate kiŋ ok'api k'a waŋhi óṡipi odepi cée. Taŋyaŋ káġapi c̣iŋpi héuŋ waŋhi óṡipi waŋ icupi k'a iŋyaŋ ṭáŋka waŋ akaŋn éhdepi. Hehaŋn ihuŋnicaṭa uŋ kaweġapi. Ok'e maṭete ed yaŋkapi k'a tuwe kaptuġeg he ṭahe iṡ waŋhi icaptuġe uŋ wíḳic̣aŋye kiŋ yuṡtaŋ cée.

A Basic Flint Knapping Tool Kit
Hammerstone • Antler baton • Pressure flaker

The Process of Flint Knapping
Step

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Click or scan to see
this page online

1
A hammerstone is used to knock flakes from a flint core to test its quality and reduce weight.
Ihuŋnicaṭa uŋ waŋhi kaweḣweġe héc̣ed waŋhi uŋṡpa waŋ etaŋhaŋ wíḳic̣aŋye waṡte waŋ káġapi okihipi cée.

Step 2
The flint core is thinned and shaped into an oval "blank" by striking it with an antler hammer "baton."
Waŋhi uŋspa kiŋ he ṭahe iyape ("baton" eyapi héc̣a) uŋ kaweḣweġapi héc̣ed uŋṡpa kiŋ he ṡoke kte ṡni k'a nakuŋ mibehaŋska kte.

Step 3
Finished edges and notches are made by pushing flakes off with an antler tip.
Ṭahe íŋkpa uŋ iwaṡtedaŋ kaweḣweġapi. Héc̣ed ope k'a owaġo káġapi cée.

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

Location. 43° 43.66′ N, 92° 35.293′ W. Marker is near Grand Meadow, Minnesota, in Mower County. It is in Grand Meadow Township.

Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe Marker at the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

2. Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe Marker at the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry

It can be reached from 730th Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the self-guided interpretive trail at the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25578 730th Avenue, Grand Meadow MN 55936, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota.

It is also in the American Midwest

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 Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Not Just a Quarry/De Maḳa Ok'e Ecéedaŋ Héc̣a Ṡni (a few steps from this marker); The Quarry Story/Maḳa Ook'e Wóyakapi Kiŋ Dée (within shouting distance of this marker); Everything is Related/Mitakuye Owas'iŋ (within shouting distance of this marker); Making These Pits/Maḳa Ok'e Kaġapi (within shouting distance of this marker); Those Who Came Here/Ehaŋnah Tuweweka Ded Hípi?

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(within shouting distance of this marker); The Perfect Spot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Truly Grand Rock (about 300 feet away); Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Meadow.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 22, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.