MVAC at the University
of Wisconsin - La Crosse
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
www.uwlax.edu/mvac
This year’s theme:
Native American
use of the
Mississippi River
This year we continue publishing our
MVAC Education newsletter in a
digital format. Each issue will include
content information, lesson plans and
resources for teachers to use in their
classrooms. The digital newsletter
format will be issued three times a
year.
Content information for this year’s
topic comes from Twelve Millenia by
James L. Theler (UW-La Crosse) and
Robert F. Boszhardt (MVAC).
Please let me know if you have
comments on the newsletter’s
content and/or suggestions you have
for new material to include. Contact
me at dowiasch.jean@uwlax.edu or
(608) 785-8454. Enjoy the
newsletter!
Jean Dowiasch, Editor
Volume 22, Number 3
Winter 2005
Archaeology Education Program
Introduction
As a result of the Mississippi River formation, the Driftless Area was
divided into four basic land forms/biotic communities. In prehistoric
times, each landform would provide different resources, which in turn
would be utilized by the early Native cultures.
Driftless Area Landforms
Bedrock Uplands: Ridgetops were covered in prairie grass, which was
maintained by periodic (primarily accidental) fires. The ridgetops would
have been used as a lookout for other people or animal herds.
Steep-sided Interior Valleys: Cooler and damper north and east-facing
slopes harbored stands of deciduous trees such as oak, hickory, maple,
basswood, ash and birch. The mix of prairie and forest found in these
valleys was an ideal habitat for elk, deer, and small game.
Outwash Terrace: The terrraces were covered with lush prairie savannas
with a scattering of oak trees. These areas provided little food, aside
from some roaming buffalo, but provided ideal habitation sites over-
looking the floodplain.
Floodplain: The floodplains provided a wealth of food for the early
Native Americans from spring through fall. In addition to the animals
available: fish, waterfowl, mus