Advertisement It might have come from somewhere else if it is part of a driveway or near a railroad track. And along the Mississippi River or other large rivers, kids may find smooth stones that have been washed from farther north, perhaps hundreds of years ago.
 |
This nearly 400 million-year-old crinoid fossil from Indiana was displayed by Brushy Creek Gems & Minerals of Boone, Iowa, at the Viroqua Rock & Gem Show. It is similar to but far more complete than the crinoids found around this area.
Check out the Ridgerunner Reports photo gallery to see more pictures by Jim Solberg.
Photo by Jim Solberg |
Most of our rocks, however, come from the bedrock under our feet. And since our valleys, including the Mississippi River valley, have been cut into the original rocks, a layer cake pattern of sedimentary rock has been exposed along the valleys and on our bluffs.
Over the years, like most kids, I have found my own share of sandstone, limestone, calcites, crystals, geodes and fossils in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
But some folks have gone much farther and have turned their interest in rocks and minerals into a passionate hobby or even a way of life. Some of these people displayed their efforts this summer at Viroqua Junior High School during the annual Rock & Gem Show.
This event is held during the first week of June, and it’s an excellent opportunity to see the variety of ways one can enjoy rocks. Exhibits featured a variety of products from rocks that were supposed to heal you, to rock carvings, mineral specimens, natural crystals, polished gems, jewelry, Native American arts and fossils.
If you wished, you could purchase much of what you saw, some of it quite spectacular and rather expensive. But there were also prize drawings, grab bags and many very affordable items for sale as well. The main thing most people bring away from the rock show, however, is a sense of awe at the wonders that lie under our feet wherever we go and the inspiration that if we wanted to, we could make that interest a part of our lives just like those who set up the exhibits.
Pottery from past
A couple weeks later I visited a site between Onalaska and Holmen where a team of students and staff from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Archaeology Department were digging for another treasure that lies beneath or feet — artifacts left by Native Americans who lived here long ago.
Wendy Holtz-Leith, research archaeologist at the UW-La Crosse archaeology lab, showed me around the site, which was once an Oneota village from a few hundred years ago. While I was there, some of the students were collecting pieces from a large clay pot.
It was very likely that the pot was already broken when it was placed where it was found. The most productive parts of an archaeological dig in this area are often the pits that were used as refuse dumps. The pits were usually dug originally to store corn or other perishables, but they were later used as garbage containers for animal bones, food leftovers, broken tools, utensils and other refuse.
Like our own garbage, such “trash” can tell a lot about the lives of the people that left it behind. One wonders what the large clay pot held while it was in use. What did the family talk about while the contents were distributed? We can only guess, but the clues being found by the UW-L team can’t help but get us a little closer to what life was like hundreds of years ago — before automobiles, antibiotics, refrigeration and leaf blowers.
Some things don’t change
One traditional food found in some of the refuse pits along the Upper Mississippi River is still sought by many people in the area today — fish. Some of the fish found in the Native American pits were sheepshead, bullhead and pike. I’m not sure if they ever enjoyed bluegills — they might have been too small to bother with. As I write, I have just finished a meal of fresh bluegills that I caught in the past couple days, and I feel almost sorry for anyone who doesn’t get the chance to eat them now and then.
I have written here before about some of the opportunities in the area for kids and their families to get involved in fishing. I especially love to see the look on the kids’ faces when they catch a fish. But last weekend, I got the chance to watch firsthand the joy of some kids that I know better than most when I cover such events: Gabe, Xavier and Gus Jiorle — the young sons of Deb Jiorle from Onalaska, my son Peter’s girlfriend.
Pete and Deb took the kids to the 10th annual “Take ‘em Fishing” event held in La Crosse’s Pettibone Park. The event was organized by WKTY-AM 580 and CenturyTel and supported by donations and volunteers from several other area businesses and the La Crosse Park and Recreation Department.
The kids all got their own fishing poles, basic tackle and bait. After the fishing, the kids lined up for door prize drawings, “Frisbies” and a picnic lunch.
Five year-old Xavier had a big day, catching his first bluegill and then winning a life jacket. Eight year-old Gabe and 3-year-old Gus were also happy with their new fishing gear and other goodies.
I was very pleased to see such a generous opportunity for around 150 kids and their families being offered by private businesses. Kudos to WKTY, Century Tel and all the other sponsors of “Take ‘em Fishing” for actively promoting a centuries-old tradition in the Mississippi Valley.
Whaditiz
Brown trout were introduced from Europe, so Native Americans would not have had the chance to catch them.
Contact Jim Solberg at nitefrogger@charter.net or (608) 782-2560.
