The Penokean Mountains of Minnesota originated during the Proterozoic era (1.8 bya), stretched from the north-eastern part of Minnesota to the south-western extension and remained consistent in height. The formation of the Penokean Mountains was the result of arc-continent accretion that occurred from the south and collided with plates located underneath the Great Lakes region. The mountains that formed were composed primarily of magnetic iron-ore, argillaceous granite, metamorphic slate, quartz-rich slate, carbonaceous slate, greywacke, olivine pyroxenite, garnet, and dolomitic marble. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the archaeo-linguistic importance of the Penokean Mountains; seen through the correspondence between mineralogical composition and linguistic development. The Penokean Mountains provided a source of argillaceous granite (clay) that was utilized by the Malmo culture in the production of prehistoric pottery. Malmo pottery can be traced to one specific south-eastern site (Mille Lacs, Minnesota), as well as one north-eastern location (Gull Lake Dam, Minnesota). Study of Malmo pottery reveals the emergence of a symbolic structure closely linked with the mineralogical environment.
The Penokean Mountains also provided a source of iron-ore commemorated with descriptive place-names. Descriptive place-names were important for three reasons. The first reason was that descriptive place-names specifically refer to elements of the mineralogical landscape: seen in ‘vuori’ (mountain), ‘kari’ (stone), and ‘kallio’ (rock). The second reason was that descriptive place-names became root words for activities that took place in the region: seen in ‘vuoriteollisuus’ (mining), ‘karilleajo’ (run aground), ‘kariutua’ (founder) and ‘kallioinen’ (rock painting). The third reason was that descriptive place-names were primarily found in the northern part of the state: the original site of the mountain range. How did the mineralogical composition of the Penokean Mountains impact linguistic development in the state of Minnesota?
Here, I examine a previously unexplored part of Minnesota’s history: the Penokean Mountains; and the correspondence between mineralogical composition and linguistic development.