Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University
of Wisconsin - Green Bay
First-time Visitors: Please visit Site Map and Disclaimer. Use
"Back" to return here.
|
|
A prominent escarpment on US 71 marks the edge of the Sioux Quartzite |
|
|
The escarpment is drift mantled and shows no outcrop along the main highway. |
|
|
There is a lower escarpment. The turnoff to the petroglyphs is just north of the trees. |
|
|
View north from the base of the escarpment. |
|
|
Looking north up the Sioux escarpment toward the petroglyph site. |
 |
The site is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society |
 |
The Visitor Center |
 |
The bare hilltop in the distance is a large expanse of Siouz Quartzite where the petroglyphs are carved. |
 |
The petroglyphs are subtle and their visibility depends on lighting. These near the start of the trail are some of the more deeply incised examples and include animals and handprints. |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Roped off trails guide visitors through the site. |
 |
Possible cleavage |
 |
Much of the outcrop is glacially polished. The petroglyphs are often carved on polished surfaces for better visibility. |
 |
Ripple Marks |
 |
Ripple Marks |
 |
Ripple marks and mud cracks |
 |
A beautiful snapshot in geologic time. A patch of mud cracks in the center of the picture entirely surrounded by ripple marks. Picture a small swell in an ancient tidal flat sticking just out of the water so it dessicates while the ripple marks nearby are preserved. |
 |
Cactus in Minnesota. |
 |
Outcrops of Sioux Quartzite near the petroglyph site. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
View north down the Sioux Quartzite escarpment. |
Return to Virtual Field
Trips Index
Return to Professor Dutch's Home Page
Created 7 April 2003, Last Update 27 October 2005
Not an official UW Green Bay site