The Symbolic Nature of Animals

Certain animals bring certain attributes to mind. A fox makes us think of something swift and clever. A bear might make us think of something strong and powerful. A mosquito? Something small and annoying. In today's culture, many sports teams are named after animals so that fans will (hopefully) have positive attributes in mind when thinking of that team.

It is possible that Native Americans used this same general idea when building mounds in Wisconsin and other parts of the nation. Many effigy mounds were formed in the shape of birds, for example, which commonly represent freedom. Perhaps it had to do with the freedom of souls from their earthly bodies and into a connection with nature. Connecting also with the fact that these mounds were so large that one could only really see what they were from high above, remains buried in something in the shape of a bird could have to do with the souls "flying" above or around those remaining on earth.

The caves of Lascaux also seem to use the attributes animals bring with them in the paintings. Buffaloes, for example, exhibit power and great might. It seems to me, however, that the cave paintings were more likely to have been drawn as a tribute to the power of nature as a whole. They show respect for animals and all that they represent, whereas the Indian mounds seem to be far more spiritual in nature.