So many mysteries, so little time to solve

This is one view of some of the land I lived on in Dakota and the house atop the hill. It is the last house on the only road through the area and is bordered on two sides by miles of state and federal woodland and is sort of a paradise to me. The first video, by the way, is about the Indian concept of Nature and religion (sort of one and the same) and the second is social activist, musician, Oscar-winning composer Buffy Sainte-Marie singing her song about going home, which, in her case, is both a physical place and to the Native American "old ways" ....

The henge in the woods

I have written a few things about this place in the past, noting especially how there scarcely is a flat area in the two acres I mowed among the seven I owned. This twilight photograph, taken a couple of weeks ago, is a good illustration of the terrain in general.

I also have noted that south from the house is the Missouri River, less than a mile away, and across the river is Nebraska, with the view of it going on for a number of miles until vanishing away with the curvature of the earth.

I also have noted that the wife and daughter of the family which built the house were murdered by a prison escapee while living in another house a few hundred yards away. The killer was captured the same day by an agent of the state Division of Criminal Investigation during an intense manhunt. The agent later told me he had his rifle sights trained on the killer, who was armed with guns he had stolen from the house, and now wished he had pulled the trigger.

Shifting sideways, a few days ago while refreshing my memory about another venture I re-read this material from the Meriwether Lewis and William Clark "Corps of Discovery Expedition" which passed by here on the Missouri River in 1804 and again in 1806.

Lewis and Clark and ten men walked from the Missouri to "Spirit Mound" near the Vermillion River and made the ascent. The Sioux, Omaha and Otoe tribes told of spirits who inhabited the site and attacked anyone who approached the hill.  On August 24, 1804, the day before expedition reached the mouth of the Vermillion River, which they called the White Stone River, Clark wrote:

"Capt Lewis and my Self Concluded to visit a High Hill Situated in an emence Plain three Leagues N. 20° W. from the mouth of White Stone river, this hill appear to be of a Conic form and by all the different Nations in this quater is Supposed to be a place of Deavels or that they are in human form with remarkable large heads and about 18 inches high; that they are very watchfull and ar armed with Sharp arrows with which they can kill at a great distance; they are said to kill all persons who are so hardy as to attemp to approach the hill; they state the tradition informs them than many indians have suffered by these little people and among others that three Mahas Souix Ottoes and other neibghouring nations believe this fable that no consideration is suffiecient to induce them to approach this hill."

The only things the Lewis & Clark troupe encountered were vast numbers of bison and large flocks of birds -- a virtual Eden ....

Back on point: No, this house is not atop "Spirit Mound," but, within the realm of probability, the "henge" of stones partially visible in the near-foreground was a religious or ceremonial project of the same Indians. Relatively large stones form a circle which has a distinct entryway and two larger stones at the approximate center. Most of the stones were covered by snow when this photograph was taken. By large, most would require two individuals or some manner of conveyance to move them.

The first (and only) written reference I have found of them dates to the 1920s when a deer hunter mentioned the "circle of big stones" in a newspaper article. He had no idea where the stones came from or how long they had been there, but speculated they were of Native American origin. I have spoken to members of the Yankton Sioux tribe seeking information, but no one will admit to any knowledge of the stone circle.

I did do a flimsy archaeological survey of the immediate area, but only found .50 caliber slugs. It seems the area was used by Army Air Force fighter pilots to practice strafing runs during World War II.

The house and the seven acres continue to be owned by the "Framonite  Clan," so as time and money and health and interests dictate, I can resume my inquiry whenever the mood strikes me ....