To the untrained eye, they look like a bunch of rocks. But the Stone Age exhibit at the Langlade County Museum in Antigo is filled with the tools and art of an ancient people.
The rocks were found on a farm near the Eau Claire River in Marathon County.
Irv Banchik and his late friend Marv started digging in a field near the river and started finding the artifacts about twenty feet down. Irv thinks they found a ten-thousand-year-old settlement. Axe heads, spear points, and clubs were carved from rocks.
Irv and Marv found other tools used for crushing grain, stretching skins, and sharpening tools. Some of the tools even appear to be stained with ten-thousand-year-old blood. The site is in such good condition because of sand.
About ten-thousand years ago, a huge flood washed out much of central Wisconsin. This same flood buried the settlement under 3.5 feet of sand. The tools are important in dating the find, but Irv says the treasures of the site are the rock sculptures. Some rocks are carved profiles of human faces and animals.
The rocks will be on display for the next several months.
