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Summary
Man Mound
Man Mound Road, Town of Greenfield, Sauk County
Period of construction: AD 750 – 1200
The Man Mound (also known as the Greenfield Man Mound) is the only surviving earthen anthropomorphic effigy in the Upper Midwest. The figure is the sole mound at a small Late Woodland Stage/Effigy Mound culture mortuary and ceremonial center (ca. AD 750-1200). The site is located on gently sloping ground at the north base of the North arm of the Baraboo Range, northeast of Baraboo, in the civil township of Greenfield.
Most of the human figure is in excellent condition, with the exception of the figure’s lower legs and feet. The bulk of the mound is preserved within Man Mound Park. Man Mound Road passes through the lower legs of the earthwork, and the feet of the figure are located on private property north of the road. Surface indications of the feet have been heavily worn down by cattle pastured on the property.
The Man Mound was first identified and mapped by W. H. Canfield in 1859, a local surveyor and antiquarian. Canfield forwarded his survey maps to famed naturalist Increase Lapham, who published Canfield’s findings in a short journal article that year. The mound was surveyed a second time in 1905, by Arlow Stout, a member of the Wisconsin Archeological Society. Stout discovered that the landowner was planning to plow the mound, which had already been damaged by the placement of a road through its lower legs. An appeal to private individuals and state and local historical societies swiftly raised the money necessary to purchase the portions of the effigy south of Man Mound Road. A formal ceremony to dedicate the park was held on August 8, 1908. Since 1908 additional land has been added to the east side of the park, nearly doubling its size. In 2008, the park was re-dedicated, and the contours of the feet and legs were painted on the road and pasture using Canfield’s original survey measurements.
The Man Mound may be visited during regular park hours.
Property Details
| Criteria | Information Potential |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Archeology/Prehistoric,Art |
| Period of Significance | 1000-500 AD |
| Architectural Style | |
| Architect | |
| Resource Type | Site |
| Historic Use | Graves/Burials |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 0 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 1 |
| Contributing Structures | 1 |
| Contributing Objects | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Nov 30, 1978 |
| Historic Status | National Historic Landmark Status Granted |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Oct 31, 2016 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Man Mound Road
10000211
Located in Town of Greenfield, Sauk County
Report and Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, for the years of 1880, 1881, and 1882, Vol. IX, page 72
1882
Emblematic Mounds in Wisconsin, by the Reverend Stephen D. Peet, describes the archeology of the ancient city of Aztalan, its numerous effigies, and the importance of preserving these mounds for wh...
Address Restricted
70000038
Located in Town of Farmington, Washington County
Report and Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, for the years of 1880, 1881, and 1882, Vol. IX, page 73
1882
Emblematic Mounds in Wisconsin, by the Reverend Stephen D. Peet, describes the archeology of the ancient city of Aztalan, its numerous effigies, and the importance of preserving these mounds for wh...
![Report and collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for the Years 1857 and 1858 Volume IV [page 365]](https://explore.wishistory.org/AssetLink/mh85f11o0812u06nx77q4y2y4f64eimg.jpg)
Report and collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for the Years 1857 and 1858 Volume IV [page 365]
1859
On the Man-Shaped Mounds of Wisconsin, by Increase Lapham, announces the finding of a man-shaped mound near Baraboo. The mound, found by William H. Canfield, was not the first human-shaped mound fo...
Report and collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for the Years 1857 and 1858 Volume IV, page 366
1859
On the Man-Shaped Mounds of Wisconsin, by Increase Lapham, announces the finding of a man-shaped mound near Baraboo. The mound, found by William H. Canfield, was not the first human-shaped mound fo...
