Near Lake Mills in Jefferson County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Princess Burial Mound

Photographed by William J. Toman, September 4, 2010

1. Princess Burial Mound Marker

Inscription. Ancient people built this mound to mark a young woman's grave. The mound was the last in a line that once bordered the western side of the ancient community of Aztalan and the only one that contained a burial. Her community placed the young woman on her back, hands at her sides, in a pit dug down to a natural layer of white sand. They carefully wrapped her body with three six-inch-wide and four-feet-long beaded belts placed at her shoulders, waist, and feet. Hundreds of disc-shaped beads made from local clamshell and tubular beads made from shells imported from the Gulf Coast adorned her belts. She was then covered with soil, a layer of white sand and a large mound of earth. Because of the ornate belts and careful placement of her remains, the interment has been referred to as the "Princess Burial".

Erected 2007 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 515.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Women. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list.

Location. 43° 4.347′ N, 88° 51.715′ W. Marker is near Lake Mills, Wisconsin, in Jefferson

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County. It can be reached from the intersection of County Highway Q and County Highway B, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Mills WI 53551, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Madison.

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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mamre Moravian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Aztalan (within shouting distance of this marker); Anne Pickett (within shouting distance of this marker); Site Map of the Prehistoric Village of Aztalan (approx. ¼ mile away); Welcome to Aztalan National Historic Landmark (approx. ¼ mile away); The Cahokia Connection (approx. ¼ mile away); Aztalan Mound Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Aztalan (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Mills.

Photographed by Paul F, October 21, 2010

2. Princess Burial Mound Marker

East side of two sided marker

Photographed by William J. Toman, September 4, 2010

3. Princess Burial Mound Marker

The burial mound is in the background.

Stone Princess Mound Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, September 4, 2010

4. Stone Princess Mound Marker

This is a closeup of the stone on top of the burial mound.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,036 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 8, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on October 23, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3, 4. submitted on September 8, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.