Native American Mound Art

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The Effigy Mounds at Devils Lake were built around 800 to 1100 AD by aboriginal Americans we refer to as the Effigy Mound Builders. No one, not even a modern native american has any direct knoledge of these people. At one time many people believed that these were burial mounds, but studies have shown that most seemed to have ceremonial significance and were not used for burials.
www.devilslakewisconsin.com/mounds.html

"Devil's Lake State Park, home to several mound effigies including bear-, lynx- and bird-shaped mounds. ... Wisconsin is well-known for its abundance of "official" earthen mound sites and parks. One source indicates the state's 5,000 mounds account for 98 percent of all known mounds in North America. The majority are found in south central and western Wisconsin and they are one of the oldest and most impressive remains left by native people.

Typically located on high ground overlooking bodies of water, no definitive reason identifies why these mounds, or effigies, were created. Ho-Chunk, history suggests animal effigies are totems of various clans, while other researchers say effigies relate to the stars and constellations and may mark solar or other astronomical events."
agency.travelwisconsin.com