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Summary

Lizard Mound
2121 County Highway A, Town of Farmington, Washington County
The Lizard Mound site is a pre-contact Native ceremonial center and cemetery, dating to the Late Woodland stage (AD 750–1200). Lizard Mound was initially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1970. In April 1996 it was included as one of three mound groups, the largest and most intact of the three, comprising the National Register of Historic Places archaeological district entitled the Washington County “Island” Effigy Mound District, the other two being the Glass Mounds and the Susen/Backhaus Mounds. Because of active site stewardship and protection, the site will remain a premier scientific focus among properties of its type, not only throughout southeastern Wisconsin, but throughout the broader multi-state region that includes societies that participated in the Effigy Mound ritual complex.

It has been called “one of the best preserved and most diverse Effigy Mound groups in Wisconsin.” Each mound group is located on an elevated landform suggesting an almost island-like setting, unique for mound groups associated with the Effigy Mound ritual complex. Thus, its unusual setting adds to its significance. Further, the Lizard Mound site is the only one of the three district sites located on public land, affording greater protection for both mound and off-mound areas of the site. The site has a diversity of mound forms and one of the largest assemblages of preserved mounds in the region, and is the largest surviving collection of bas-relief, earthen mounds with water and water spirit symbolism on earth.

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