Archaeotrek—Alternate Perceptions Magazine, March 2015
Fish Farms Mound Group, Iowa
by: Dr. Greg Little
Fish Farm’s 30 burial mounds are contained in a 576-acre Iowa State Wildlife Preserve. The mounds are in a 3-area area and vary in height from 20-40 feet. The conical mounds are dated to 100 B.C. to A.D. 650. The site was described in the Bureau of Ethnology’s 1883-84 Annual Report. The report does not specify how many of these were excavated, but it appears all of them were opened and several completely excavated. Most of them had two or three skeletal remains with stone axes, arrowheads, spear heads, and some copper celts. Excavation of one mound revealed a circular stone vault raised vertically somewhat like an arched furnace. Inside it was a single seated skeleton. A vase and other artifacts were also found in the tomb.
