The Winfield Mounds Prehistoric Site - Introduction

[@TheMikeserafin]

You guys should be really proud of yourselves. This is an awesome series

[@BeHistoric]

So very glad that you enjoyed the Winfield Mounds series. That was our first project involving prehistory and precontact cultures. We learned much from that series - not only regarding the prehistory of the Winfield Mound site - but also in filmmaking and documentaries. Thanks again!

[@bigbensarrowheadchannel2739]

I really love these videos. I've always been interested in the ancient history of N America. Ever since I found my first artifact. As a Texan I never knew I'd be excited about the history of the Chicago area. Thanks for the awesome content.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for the very kind words of support! So glad that you discovered our channel - and that you find the videos informative! That is why we make them - to do deep dives into some of these very interesting stories of history and prehistory, often right under our own noses. Hope all is well in Texas - and thanks again!

[@ninavanderway9844]

This is amazing! Thank you for your specific and respectful approach. I will happily share this! so much beneath our feet...

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you! We're so glad you liked this video. Thank you for sharing the video with others!

[@kingtut8381]

THANX. I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS

[@BeHistoric]

Very glad that you found our video and enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@hannahpumpkins4359]

I used to be a law enforcement park ranger, and took my partner out to the mounds and settlement area to see them. By the settlement area there is a large, old oak nearby - I went up to it and wrapped my arms around it, giving it a big hug (I was like, "you're so big and hundreds of years old and beautiful") and just then my partner, with a sense of urgency in her voice, called my name (she would always call me 'babe' or some other pet name - and rarely used my first name, which is why I knew whatever it was that caught her attention, it was significant), "Hannah, Hannah - turn around, now"! As clear as day we saw the ghost of a tall, handsome American Indian male (wearing what looked to be deerskin clothing) casually walking in the woods; he glanced over at us, but was still walking - and he disappeared into thin air. Frankly, he looked very healthy and fit, and it was obvious that he had seen us, but didn't mind our presence. We weren't afraid at all, as it was an interesting experience. We'd gone back many times since, but never saw him (or had any other paranormal experiences there). And yes, the DuPage River there floods VERY quickly - it was sweep right over that footbridge; I always told people to avoid that entire area during heavy or sustained rain, as the flood comes on quickly. Anyway, thanks for these great videos - well researched, and interesting! I just discovered them now... Keep it going!!!!

[@BeHistoric]

Wow, what an interesting and unsettling experience! Thanks very much for sharing that story! Thanks too for confirming the danger of the river in periods of heavy rain. It looks to be a modest peaceful river, but we've often seen it almost topping up over Geneva Road following heavy rainfalls in the spring and fall. You could be easily swept away in this if you are not careful. Thanks too for the kind words and support! Much appreciated!

[@Zapattack321]

Very cool. I never knew that was back there. I road my bicycle many times that way back in the late 60s-early 70s. That part of the Geneva Spur was pretty like that portion of path that leads to the torn down bridge, meaning just kind of earthen; dirt and rocks all the way west to Prince Crossing Road. Back in my day, from Prince Crossing west to just about where the apartments sit used to be path as well. I don’t know when the street was extended east to Prince Crossing.

[@arlaostberg2777]

I loved this! Found it very informative!!

[@BeHistoric]

Glad you liked it!!

[@legacyXplore]

You guys do incredible work. Just subscribed. I’m in the central Indiana area. Have you ever wondered down this way? I doubt you even have the time being surrounded by such great sites but wanted to ask.

[@BeHistoric]

We certainly do think about doing stories in Indiana as well. We've always viewed our channel as being regional history and prehistory, although we tend to do more stories closer in to where we live, as the logistics are easier. Our research and filming typically requires multiple trips to an area before we publish a video. But if there is a story that catches our attention, we certainly will make the necessary travel to do so. One story we've considered is regarding Lake Chicago, the glacial predecessor to Lake Michigan - and that touches on the northwest corner of Indiana. If you have any ideas or suggestions, we certainly are open to hearing them. Thanks for subscribing and for watching our videos! We appreciate it!

[@legacyXplore]

@@BeHistoric I grew up in Delaware County Indiana. Some of my earliest memories are just being fascinated with artifacts my dad and his small group of friends found in the area. Now that I’m older there was one item in particular that had to be special. It was what best can be called a bead. It was an amber color with some orange and it was really big. Like the size of a thumb thick in the middle then identically smaller on both ends with a hole all the way in the middle to both sides so they could put it on a necklace. Then finally it had lines carved in it all the way around it from one end to the other. I’ve found many things and I’ve watched even more on KZbin etc…. And I’ve yet to see anything like it.

[@lauramerle1926]

I just watched this ,as a life long resident of Winfield, I loved it did you do any more?

[@BeHistoric]

Not yet - working on it! Hoping to post the next WM episode within the next week. :-)

[@BeHistoric]

BTW, if you subscribe, you should get an automatic notification of any new postings.

[@PaulRSmileyOyen]

Brian & Joyce, I love your video. I have posted it to a WNHS group in hopes of spreading the word. I really like the way you placed the camera ahead and behind your trails. I gives valuable perspective and a personal quality to the production. Have you found any artifacts or documentation of such, in either private or public collections? Just knowing what was found in those mounds would be a great insight into these peoples lives.

[@BeHistoric]

Hi Paul, thank you so much for watching and for the very kind words. Very glad to hear that you're sharing with a WNHS group - as we're very fortunate to have this ancient and sacred place so very close - and which can be a wonderful resource for learning. Regarding further documentation - we just posted the second video in the series, where we discuss at length the findings of a few amateur digs in the 1920s, as well as the extensive 1931 University of Chicago dig at the site. We won't spoil it for you and tell you what they found - it's in the video! The third video will highlight the Wheaton College dig in the mid 1970s, and then a fourth video will discuss more recent interpretations of the mound and village site. If you subscribe to our channel, you should get automatic notifications of the postings. :-) Thanks again!

[@jerryhund5630]

Never knew anything about this. Very informative. Is there a map available from the county? I will walk this soon.

[@jerryhund5630]

I have a suggestion for your next video. It’s called the Wolf Road Nature Preserve. Have you heard of this small community in Westchester at the corner of Wolf Rd. and 31st St? In 1929, sidewalks and lights were installed in this area prior to development. Unfortunately the Great Depression hit later that year. The land stood undeveloped for years until it was recently protected. I can send you photos if you PM me.

[@BeHistoric]

Hi, Jerry, thank you for watching! Glad that you found this interesting and informative. We're not aware that the DuPage Forest Preserve District has a map to the mounds per se, but there is one that was posted a few years back by a blogger. Here's the link: www.derivativeworks.com/2010/11/how-to-find-the-winfield-mounds-prehistoric-site.html

[@BeHistoric]

@@jerryhund5630 Hi, Jerry - that does sound interesting. We will look into that as an upcoming topic. If you would like to send us photos, the best bet is to use our emails, [e-mail] or [e-mail].

[@brianberthold3118]

being the mounds were destroyed and rebuilt would that still be an archeological site ??

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for the comment and question! The site includes both the mound area as well as the habitation area - neither of which has been fully excavated, at least in any formal sense. There is likely more to be found there - but only if there is a real need to answer important questions, rather than to simply dig something up. Even though the mounds were reconstructed, they still had a context in the landscape - their proximity to the habitation sites, to the river, to local springs, and so on. Hope that helps!

[@jakesarms8996]

Sinissippi park in Sterling Illinios , along the Rock river has several mounds stop a bluff. The whole park is a woodland Indian site. The paths were ruined - replaced with asphalt. They were better when they were ancient footpaths.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for the comment! We'll have to get there at some point in the next year to take a look.

[@jakesarms8996]

@@BeHistoric you'll love that park , and while your there, go to Westwood sports and fitness center.Behind Westwood was the Indian site that was bulldozed , but near the creek is unmolested. To the west , along the creek for miles there were people living there. The area is between the Rock river and Elkhorn creek - basically two prehistoric hiways. Eat at Angelo's pizzeria while your there , best pizza in the state.

[@BrianTheJames]

I wouldn’t trust any archeological dig done by Wheaton College.

[@Jacksirrom]

Archaeologists beget grave robbers and dirt bikers. We live on land plundered in ethnic cleansing. Who were these people?

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting! When you ask, "who were these people?" - are you referring to the archeologists that worked on this site? Or are you referring to the Native American peoples that inhabited the site? Some of the subsequent videos in this series provide answers to both of these questions.

[@Jacksirrom]

@@BeHistoric I watched the whole series, I'm currently taking a breather after biking to the mounds. Pretty place