Whose Story is Told? Interpretation, Indigenous Representation, and Public Archaeology at Aztalan State Park, Wisconsin

Abstract

Aztalan State Park in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, is an archaeological site known for its large earthwork mounds associated with the Middle Mississippian culture spanning from the tenth to thirteenth centuries CE. First recorded by Euro-Americans in 1835, it is one of the most significant Indigenous archaeological sites in the state of Wisconsin, established as a state park in 1952 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This thesis examines historical and current materials associated with the interpretation and representation of the site to the public—including Aztalan State Park interpretive signage and walking tours, marker signs, and the National Register nomination—to identify changes in terminology used, features emphasized, and extent of Indigenous input over time. The results of a word frequency analysis quantifying linguistic trends and changes in terminology, as well as a comparative topic analysis assessing shifts in key themes across sources, are presented. To provide broader context for these analyses, the changing interpretation of Aztalan is also compared to new signage installed alongside the Chief Oshkosh statue in Menominee Park, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The historiographic meta-analysis presented in this thesis reveals how interpretations of the site of Aztalan reflect changing perceptions of Indigenous peoples in Wisconsin over time and can serve as a model for similar contexts in other states.