Discover Illinois Archaeology ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY Discover Illinois Archaeology Illinois’ rich cultural heritage began more collaborative effort by 18 archaeologists from than 12,000 years ago with the arrival of the across the state, with a major contribution by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. We learn Design Editor Kelvin Sampson. Along with sum- about them through investigations of the remains maries of each cultural period and highlights of they left behind, which range from monumental regional archaeological research, we include a earthworks with large river-valley settlements to short list of internet and print resources. A more a fragment of an ancient stone tool. After the extensive reading list can be found at the Illinois arrival of European explorers in the late 1600s, a Association for Advancement of Archaeology succession of diverse settlers added to our cul- web site www.museum.state.il.us/iaaa/DIA.pdf. tural heritage, leading to our modern urban com- We hope that by reading this summary of munities and the landscape we see today. Ar- Illinois archaeology, visiting a nearby archaeo- chaeological studies allow us to reconstruct past logical site or museum exhibit, and participating environments and ways of life, study the rela- in Illinois Archaeology Awareness Month pro- tionship between people of various cultures, and grams each September, you will become actively investigate how and why cultures rise and fall. engaged in Illinois’ diverse past and DISCOVER DISCOVER ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGY, ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGY. summarizing Illinois culture history, is truly a Alice Berkson Michael D. Wiant IIILLINOIS AAASSOCIATION FOR CONTENTS AAADVANCEMENT OF INTRODUCTION. .2 AAARCHAEOLOGY Founded in 1969, IAAA unites all persons CULTURAL SEQUENCE AND interested in the archaeology of Illinois, and PEOPLING OF NORTH AMERICA. .3 encourages site preservation and scientific study of our prehistory and early history. www.museum.state.il.us/iaaa THE CULTURE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS . .4 IIILLINOIS AAARCHAEOLOGICAL THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ILLINOIS: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES. .18 SSSURVEY An organization of professional INVENTORY OF archaeologists founded in 1965, IAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. 25 documents, interprets and seeks to preserve the archaeological record of Illinois. www.illarchsurvey.org ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AN ENDANGERED CULTURAL RESOURCE. 26 DISCOVER ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGY includes RESOURCES FOR FURTHER material originally published in Illinois Antiquity, the quarterly publication of the Illinois Association for Ad- EXPLORATIONS . 27 vancement of Archaeology. First Printing, 2001, Second Cover illustration by Andy Buttram. Courtesy of the Dickson Printing 2004, Third Printing 2009. Mounds branch of the Illinois State Museum. copyright 2009 3 Discover Illinois Archaeology CULTURAL SEQUENCE AND PEOPLING OF NORTH AMERICA This series of cultural periods and sub-periods, defined by archaeologists, is based on similarities and differences in artifacts and inferences about past lifeways. This chronology changes occasionally as a result of discoveries and ongoing study. Age here is expressed as years before present, which is defined as AD 1950, the standard for radiocarbon dating. NATIVE AMERICANS WHERE DID THEY COME FROM AND WHEN DID THEY ARRIVE? To the best of our knowledge, people first arrived in the western hemisphere during the last Ice Age, when land connected the continents of Asia and North America. Current research suggests that Asian people may have arrived in North America as early as 17,000 years ago. They resided in present-day Alaska for a period of time before moving to locations throughout the western hemisphere. A new theory, based on similarities of some artifacts, suggests the possibility that people also migrated from Europe to North America, but at this time there is little supporting evidence for this idea. Archaeologists and other scientists continue to study artifacts and the context of their deposition, DNA, and linguistic evidence to learn about this topic. By doing so, they expand our understanding of human history and the circumstances that encouraged the development of culture. Discover Illinois Archaeology 4 THE PALEOINDIAN PERIOD Unlike most other parts of the world, the state had retreated northward, and spruce who frequently moved through areas to in- North and South America were not inhab- and pine forest and parkland had replaced tercept herds but apparently rarely settled ited until late in the Pleistocene Epoch, or Ice glacial tundra. into any given area long enough to locate, Age. These earliest Americans are the an- explore, and routinely use these natural shel- cient ancestors of the Native Americans CLOVIS CULTURE ters. Clovis sites are typically found on promi- encountered by European explorers. When Clovis points are found across the United nent, well-drained landforms, such as bluff and how Paleoindians arrived, and from States and are distinctive because of their tops and high terraces, that provide a com- where, are questions that continue to be lanceolate shape and long flakes, or flutes, manding view the surrounding area. Such chipped into the base, or locations were good spots not only for moni- haft element. Clovis toring the movements of herds but also for points were hafted on short gathering together dispersed family groups. wooden or bone foreshafts Little is known concerning the social that were in turn lashed to and ritual life of Paleoindians. Because the main spear shaft. groups moved frequently, they did not rou- These stone-tipped spears tinely bury their dead in cemeteries — people were propelled by hand, who died were probably buried nearby, soon perhaps with the aid of an after death. There are indications that some atlatl, a handheld hooked male hunters were buried with new, freshly- stick that increased the chipped spear points that are much larger power and distance the than normal-size points used on hunting spear travels, in effect ex- spears. Based on studies of hunting groups tending the reach of the thought to be similar to Paleoindians, widely- thrower’s arm. The Clovis scattered Paleoindian groups likely met on a tool kit typically includes seasonal basis at particular, well-known ren- end scrapers and side dezvous locations. These multi-band gath- scrapers, beveled flakes of erings would have been held for social and stone used to dress hides ritual activities, the formation of alliances and work bone and other between bands, the initiation of young people materials. into adult status, the selection of marriage Clovis hunters were partners, feasting, and the sharing of infor- organized into small, mation and knowledge about hunting prac- highly mobile family tices and the location of good chert sources groups that hunted a vari- and hunting grounds. ety of large and small ani- mals. While there is little CLOVIS IN ILLINOIS evidence of their use of Typical Clovis sites in Illinois are small wild plant foods, it is hard scatters of stone tools and chipping debris. to believe that they did not Often the bulk of material found on take advantage of these Paleoindian sites consists of chert (or flint) resources. At the chipping debris, the waste products of tool Illustration by Andy Buttram. Courtesy of the Dickson Mounds branch of the Illinois State Museum. Kimmswick site, south of manufacture and maintenance, or St. Louis, Missouri, re- resharpening. These artifact scatters repre- debated because information is limited. Most searchers from the Illinois State Museum sent the durable remains of brief campsites, scientists had believed that Paleoindians unearthed Clovis points and other stone tools but some scatters could be the remains of kill entered North American across a land bridge in direct association with the bones a mast- sites such as that at Mastodon State Park. between Siberia and Alaska that formed odon. These forest-dwelling elephant-like Larger campsites and quarry-workshop sites during the Ice Age when vast quantities of creatures died out with a number of other are less common but no less significant. ocean water were locked into glaciers, caus- large mammals at the close of the Ice Age. Workshops are spots near chert outcrops ing a drop in sea level. However, recent Along with mastodon bones, the remains of where stone tools were manufactured. We discoveries have led some researchers to other animals, such as the ground sloth, were know that Clovis groups were highly mobile believe that Paleoindians arrived by boat found at the site. In addition, modern game because at these workshops we find heavily and that they initially settled along coastal animals, such as the white-tailed deer, were resharpened, or expended, Clovis points areas, eventually migrating inland. also recovered. made from non-local cherts. Workshops are Based on the repeated discovery of dis- From other Paleoindian sites across also important because they contain unfin- tinctive chipped-stone spear points called North America, we know that bone and ished tools that were broken or rejected Clovis points, which were first discovered in ivory were worked into tools. The discovery during manufacture, and these items pro- the American Southwest amidst the bones of of bone needles indicates that animal hides vide unique insights into Clovis technology. extinct Ice Age animals, archaeologists know were fashioned into tailored clothing, foot- Workshops were also “classrooms” for teach- that by about 12,000 years ago small bands wear, bags, and other items. Hides were ing youngsters tool-making skills. of hunters lived in the region now known as probably used to cover portable shelters like Large campsites, some encompassing Illinois. By this time, the massive continen- wigwams or conical tents. Rock shelters and several acres, are places on the landscape tal ice sheets that had once covered much of caves were seldom visited by Clovis groups, that were periodically revisited because they 5 Discover Illinois Archaeology were adjacent to ideal hunting grounds, such nual rounds, moving as much as 480 to 640 more intensively, but also existed in larger as wetlands, salt licks, and stream crossings.