Central Wabash Archaeology Chapter
408 South Cross Street
Robinson, IL 62454
Discovery, Research, and Recording for Preservation of History
Monthly Meeting:
Third Tuesday each Month 6:30 P.M. Archaeology Museum, 408 S. Cross St. Robinson, IL 62454 Officers: President: Lynn Stephens Vice-President: Rob Byrley Treasurer: Marilyn Manning Secretary: Barbara Ross |
Central Wabash Archaeology Museum
408 South Cross Street Robinson, IL 62454 Hours: Sat. and Sun. 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. For addition hours call 618-546-1180 to made arrangement to tour Museum |
The Central Wabash Archaeology Chapter was established in 1963 as a chartered chapter of the State organization, known as the Illinois Association for Advancement for Advancement of Archaeology. The purposes of the State association are preserving prehistoric and historic archaeology sites, information, and artifacts; encouraging and participating in scientific investigation and research, fostering constructive public and governmental attitudes toward the archaeology of Illinois and contiguous regions. The Association and its members are opposed to the destruction and unauthorized excavation or looting of archaeology sites and actively discourage commercialism in archaeology artifacts. Our chapter shares these same objectives for our local community and desire to keep artifacts and related materials in our community and on display for general public use. We sponsor the local Archaeology Museum and have provided through preservation projects many of the artifacts on display in the museum. We have toured and lectured many grade and high school classes through the museum ad have provided guidance and information to students for participating in historical fairs. Our local chapter has initiated archaeological research and activities to recover the history of pioneer and early settlers, as well as, Native American. Large portions of early settler history is not known or recorded. Archaeology technique and research can discover and record much of this missing information. We are rapidly loosing this information to development of sites for housing and other commercial ventures. Much of the subsurface features have been destroyed by the deep tillage methods used by present day farming. In Palestine, IL, we have seen one 3-acre Indian village, and nine prehistoric burial mounds destroyed by housing projects and modern cemetery development. The remains of Fort LaMotte are of paramount concern with this writing. Every effort should be made to fully recover this history if it still remains on non-developed lands.
It is very evident we will continue to loose this history, as the professional institutions, which foster this type of work, do not have sufficient funding or trained personal to identify and salvage sites before they are destroyed. It is CWAC goal to fill this void and identify and preserve this history. We do this knowing most of the prehistoric sites are already destroyed and the remaining sites are under severe pressure from modern farming and other construction activities. Adding to this plight is the value of prehistoric artifacts have increased to such an extent that sites are plundered by collectors with no regard to their history or origin.
I can only say to anyone whom lends an ear: help us in our efforts to preserve this local history and take pride in knowing this heritage will remain in our community and become part of our history.
CWAC (Central Wabash Archaeology Chapter) has since 1969 worked on several sites and the results of this work are recorded in written reports and the reports and artifacts are on display in the Archaeology Museum. Recent work has seen the discovery and excavation of a French Trading Post, known as the LaMotte Trading Post. The existence of this trading post has been recorded in early historical accounts of Crawford County. It is now found and documented. The artifacts are on display and a full repot has been published. Excavation reports have, also, been published on Fort Handy, Fort LaMotte, The Watson Site, Swan Island, and the Harper House.
CWAC is, also, very active in assisting with the design and construction of a replica for at Palestine, Illinois that replicate similar attributes known of forts constructed during the 1812 War period. We encourage anyone interested to join us....
Lynn Stephens/President CWAC
It is very evident we will continue to loose this history, as the professional institutions, which foster this type of work, do not have sufficient funding or trained personal to identify and salvage sites before they are destroyed. It is CWAC goal to fill this void and identify and preserve this history. We do this knowing most of the prehistoric sites are already destroyed and the remaining sites are under severe pressure from modern farming and other construction activities. Adding to this plight is the value of prehistoric artifacts have increased to such an extent that sites are plundered by collectors with no regard to their history or origin.
I can only say to anyone whom lends an ear: help us in our efforts to preserve this local history and take pride in knowing this heritage will remain in our community and become part of our history.
CWAC (Central Wabash Archaeology Chapter) has since 1969 worked on several sites and the results of this work are recorded in written reports and the reports and artifacts are on display in the Archaeology Museum. Recent work has seen the discovery and excavation of a French Trading Post, known as the LaMotte Trading Post. The existence of this trading post has been recorded in early historical accounts of Crawford County. It is now found and documented. The artifacts are on display and a full repot has been published. Excavation reports have, also, been published on Fort Handy, Fort LaMotte, The Watson Site, Swan Island, and the Harper House.
CWAC is, also, very active in assisting with the design and construction of a replica for at Palestine, Illinois that replicate similar attributes known of forts constructed during the 1812 War period. We encourage anyone interested to join us....
Lynn Stephens/President CWAC
Swan Island Site
The Swan Island Site is located in southeastern Crawford County near the Crawford and Lawrence County line. The excavation consisted of two test areas, each pit was 3 meters with approximately two meter depth. Excavation occurred over a period of time from the fall of 2010 and concluded in the fall of 2012. Artifacts recovered from the Swan Island Site represented the Riverton Culture dating from ca 1,100 to 1,500 B.C. These Native American were considered to be from the late Archaic period.
Houston/Dickson Site
The Houston/Dickson Site is located in Palestine, Illinois on city lot #11. John Houston and Francis Dickson operated a general store at this site in the early 1820s. Their stock of merchandise provided settlers with needed goods. Previously settlers had to travel to Vincennes, Indiana, some twenty-five miles south, for these necessities. The approach for this dig was to complete systematic borings of the site. The area has had many uses. The earliest structure was a general store and dwelling. The most recent use was a modern day dwelling. At this time, this land is currently owned by the First Christian Church of Palestine and all structures have been removed.