“It was one of those March days when the Sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:
When it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~Charles Dickens
During the 1850s, Swiss lake levels hit a 200-year record low, which revealed the remains of prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements.
This discovery created a surge of interest in the Swiss Neolithic now known as, “Pfahlbaufieber” (“Pile Dwelling Fever”). Local residents, called “Pfahlbaufischer” (“pile-dwelling fishers”), sought to capitalize on the popularity of these new discoveries by “fishing” cultural remains out of the shallow waters from boats using long poles.
Ribbonwork was highly developed among the Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox, Menominee, and Winnebago. The latter two are the major contemporary ribbonwork producing tribes in Wisconsin.
The John J. Brander and Christine E. Rundblad Research Fellowship Program at the Milwaukee Public Museum seeks to stimulate fundamental research by scientists doing research on Wisconsin biodiversity or environmental issues, especially those that utilize and strengthen the natural science collections at MPM.
