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Due to the absence of any clear or obvious rock art hi the form of pictographs <br /> (pauitings on stone) or petroglyphs (cupmaiks, carvuigs, etc.) on the boulder, I suggested <br /> that Alan Woolworth, the former Senior Research Fellow at the Mumesota Historical <br /> Society and former State Archaeologist be contacted to see if there might be any <br /> ethnohistoric references to this stone. <br /> As I indicated, in Minnesota there were many boulders of religious significance to <br /> the Dakota. These are well documented in historical records. For example, Newport's Red <br /> Rock and the "Three Maidens" at Pipestone are still relatively well known local sacred <br /> boulders and local landmarks. Others existed at Shakopee, Lake Mhrnetonka, Eden <br /> Prairie, Birch Island Lake, Winona, St. Peter, and Bro~xms Valley. In the l7akotas there are <br /> many more, including the Hidatsa Medicine Stone, the Fort Ransom Writing stone, the <br /> petraglyph boulders of Roberts County, South Dakota, and others. <br /> As I mentioned, the Dakota liked relatively safe vison quest sites to the west of <br /> water on high points. They also paid attention to weathered red granite boulders and <br /> boulders at the head of game trails and hunting trails. The painting of boulders with red <br /> paint and the leaving of small ofrerings such as Swan's Down, tobacco, cloth, hatchets, <br /> knives, arrows, and other articles of small value were documented, Pioneer accounts <br /> describe some boulders' use as vision quest sites or a place for prayers for success in <br /> hunting. Natural springs were also of religious and cultural irnpartance as these were <br /> viewed as entrances to the undeitivorld. <br /> I am not familiar with the specific Dakota history and lore about your area and <br /> would defer to Alan Woolworth alid perhaps other local historians as to whether any <br /> historical references may exist about a sacred boulder or game trails in your area. <br /> If I can be of any further assistance, or if you have any questions, please feel free <br /> <br /> to contact me. <br /> Sincerely, -q~ <br /> Kevin L. Callahan <br /> M.A. Anthropology <br /> cc: Alan Woolworth, Scott Anfinson <br /> 9 <br /> <br />