For over a decade, Prairie Archaeology & Research has been one of the most respected full-service cultural resource management teams in the Midwest. Completing a wide range of projects from residential subdivisions and warehousing developments to regional transportation networks, PAR has assisted over 300 clients accomplish thousands of projects since 1996.
PAR clients rely on our ability to identify a project's challenges, rapidly mobilize staff, and deliver appropriate, industry-leading services and documentation. PAR is proud of our ability to tackle complex projects with solutions that are as practical as they are innovative.

Each project is approached with a full appreciation for the client's objectives, schedule, and budget. Our reputation for project success can be attributed to effective planning, project management, cost control, quality management, and technical expertise. All investigations carried out by PAR are in full compliance with the following:
  • National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665)
  • National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public law 91-910)
  • Executive Order 11593 and
  • Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Procedures for the Protection of Historic and Cultural Properties (36 CFR 800)
The Prairie Archaeology & Research full-time professional staff provides our clients with over 40 years of combined experience in archaeology, history, and cultural resource management. Our staff is augmented by qualified, part-time field technicians and laboratory support staff as needed in order to expedite the completion of every project. In addition, Prairie Archaeology & Research has long-term consultant relationships with analytical specialists for floral, faunal, geomorphological, and editorial tasks.
Click on names to reveal bios.
  • Joseph Craig
    • Joseph Craig is President and Principal Investigator of Prairie Archaeology & Research. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and has almost twenty years of experience in all aspects of cultural resource investigations including acting as point of contact, contract administrator and principal investigator. Mr. Craig oversees all aspects of the pre-fieldwork research, field and laboratory investigations, and report production conducted by Prairie Archaeology & Research staff. Mr. Craig also manages and directs the investigations of outside consultants whose expertise may be necessary to complete the project.

    Mr. Craig has extensive experience in conducting all phases of cultural resource investigations in the upper Midwest including Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this primary experience, he acted as Principal Investigator of cultural resource investigations for projects in Nevada, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Vermont and New Hampshire.

  • Susan B. Vorreyer
    • Susan B. Vorreyer (Inventory Project Manager/Field Director) has over ten years experience in conducting all phases of cultural resource investigations in the upper Midwest. Ms. Vorreyer directs all aspects of field investigations, research, laboratory analysis, and report production. She is the co-author of various papers on the prehistoric and historic archaeology of the Midwest. Her most recent focus has been the Mississipian Period within the American Bottom. She holds a degree in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
  • Rachael H. Baskett
    • Rachael H. Baskett (Archaeologist) has over seven years of experience conducting archaeological and cultural resource investigations throughout the Midwest. She is responsible for coordinating, conducting and reporting archaeological and cultural resource investigations and is experienced in CAD and graphic design. Most recently, Mrs. Baskett has participated in numerous Prairie Archaeology & Research evaluation and mitigation projects in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. She holds a degree in Archaeology from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
  • Jason Rein
    • Jason Rein (CAD/Archaeologist) joined Prairie Archaeology & Research in 2005, bringing over eight years experience conducting field, lab, and surveying work. Mr. Rein has participated in numerous prehistoric and historic archaeological survey, evaluation, and mitigation projects in Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. He specializes in CAD, total station operation, mapping, graphics, animation, and web design.