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Michigan Ancient Garden Beds
But is this all ? May we not form some reasonable conjecture as to the period in which these gardeners lived?
A fact mentioned by Dr. Lapham furnishes a species of evidence, as to the relative antiquity of the garden beds of Wisconsin, as compared with the animal mounds. They were found overlying the latter; from which he infers, of course, a more recent origin. We may also suppose a considerably more recent age, since it is not likely that the race could have thus encroached upon the works of another, until long after these had been abandoned, and their religious or other significance forgotten. The date of the abandonment of the beds may be approximately fixed, by the age of the trees found growing upon them. One of these, mentioned by Schoolcraft, cut down in 1837, had 335 cortical layers, This carries the period back as far as 1502, or some years prior to the discovery of this country by the French. How long these labors were abandoned before this tree commenced its growth may not be susceptible of proof.
Farming
Page 16
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