Learn about the prehistoric people who built earthworks along the Fox River
On Wednesday, March 1, historians Brian and Joyce Ostberg will present "The Secrets of the St. Charles Indian Mounds," a multimedia examination of the customs and culture of the prehistoric people who built these mysterious earthworks near the Fox River.
The "Wednesdays @ One" program will begin at 1 p.m. at the historic Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. in St. Charles.
Registration is required for the free program at www.NorrisCulturalArts.com
These prehistoric earthworks, known as the Ferson Mounds or Wild Rose Mounds, sit astride Route 31, along the west banks of the Fox River in St. Charles.
It is representative of dozens of mounds that once existed along the Fox River Valley, from Dundee to Oswego, prior to the incursions of white and European settlers in the early 1800s.
These ancient earthworks and burial sites were often desecrated and destroyed by the plow, by industry and mining, or residential construction.
The history of St Charles mounds includes excavations by antiquarians in the late 1870s, diggings by amateurs in the 1960s, and more formal salvage archaeology in the 1970s.
The couple, producers of the BeHistoric video channel on YouTube, will discuss the results of these excavations, what it meant to archaeological research, and how it became part of a much larger societal movement, related to shifting views regarding Native Americans and the methods of archaeological research.
The Be Historic history vidoes are focused on explorations into U.S. midwestern regional history and pre-history, with in-the-field investigations, solid research, and compelling stories.
History and pre-history are often surprisingly close to home - and so they hope to inspire people to find it for themselves.
Follow the @BeHistoric channel on YouTube.