User:Jessicaduran1809/Bell Site

Bell Site, Grand Village of the Meskwaki
Bell site is an archaeological site located in Winnebago County, east central Wisconsin, United States. It is a historical village from the Native American Meskwaki tribe that dates from 1680 to 1730 A.D. Previous ethnographic work in the area led to the hypothesis of a belief system where the bear and dog have spiritually important role in the culture. Through the remains found at site, archaeologist can see identify the eating patterns of the people there. The manner in which they discarded the bodies of the animals speaks volumes of the level of respect they had for them.

Geography
Bell site is approximately a 44.5 acre area which is then surrounded by an 18.6 acre palisaded residential core on top of a 60 foot high bank overlooking a lake. Much of the land has been altered and no clear layout can be made but there are enough deposit remains to be able to identify several features.

Meskwaki History
Meskwaki origins began in Michigan but migrated around mid 1700s to Northern Wisconsin. They were excluded from fur trade and moved down south to engage in it. They gained much economic and political control that tension began to emerge between them and the French and their allies. They would purposely align themselves with the enemy of their enemies to get back at them.

The Meskwaki Grand Village was attacked twice in 1716 and 1728 but were able to bounce back. In 1730, the Meskwaki were finally beaten and fled from easter Wisconsin and the few that remained settled in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern illnois.

Animals of significance
There is written history about the relationship of Native American people, specifically the Great Lake societies, have with animals. They believe that certain animals have spirits that can rival that of actual humans and if they are appeased correctly, they can provide benefits to them and likewise bring misfortune if offended.

Bears in specific, were of great importance to them. They were seen as a representation of great hunting, healing and danger. After killing a bear, certain ritual activities were preformed with the remaining body parts. Animal skin is worn for a dance done in hopes of emulating the healing properties bears are said to have. The remains of the bones are then buried or place at a high altitude to avoid animals scavenging which can disrupt the bears spirit.

Dogs on the other hand, have varied in their spiritual importance. Throughout time, some were buried and some were sacrificed. Some believed that dogs have souls like humans and can function as the vessel connecting the spirit world to the physical one. Early twentieth-century Meskaki in specific believed that consuming dogs would give them access to the dogs spiritual powers and so consumed dogs in ritual settings.

Excavations
One of the earliest excavation was during the late 1950s, early 1960s, done by Neil Ostberg, who was digging up features being used as borrow pits.

Warren Wility in 1959 conducted a major excavation that led to the discovery of new habitation sites and was the first to link this site to the grand village of the Meskwaki.

Large portions of the excavation and faunal assemblege were done with the help of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Finds and Significance
Pottery found at the site was deemed Mississipain and charred corn remains backed that up by dating the site to thirteenth century AD.

Bear remains that were found tended to only have complete skulls and not much else. In the area where bear bones were found there was also a high diversity of other flora and fauna which seems to be indicative of a feast. This backs up the claim that bears were seen as important for ritualist activities as feasting can qualify as such activity. Furthermore, since only skulls were found archaeologist assume that they disposed of more properly to avoid scavenging as mentioned before.

Dog remains were found more commonly across the site and serve as evidence that while some dogs were respected and buried, for the most part dogs were of less importance than bears. That does not mean they were not useful, they had many function such as companions, for sacrifice and as substance when food was lacking.