THE OLCOTT MOUNDS SITE - ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF A PORTION OF THE MISSISSIPPIAN SITE IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS
The Olcott Mounds group is situated on the east bluff of the South Fork of the Sangamon River near the town of Rochester in Sangamon County, Illinois. The mound group, consisting of five low mounds arranged in a linear pattern along the bluff crest, is located on a long narrow peninsula of upland bluff which projects into the South Fork floodplain. These mounds were originally reported by James Wickersham of New Tacoma, Washington Territory, in a submission titled "Mounds of Sangamon County, Illinois" in 1885. During the mid-19th century, Wickersham, an avid artifact collector with an interest in the mound-builder's debate, worked as an attorney in the census office in Springfield, Illinois. During his time in central Illinois, Wickersham identified eleven mound groups (including the Olcott Mounds), totaling 56 mounds, in the bluffs surrounding Springfield. In addition to his survey documentation, he conducted "explorations" into six of those mounds. When he visited the Olcott Mounds site, James Wickersham reported observing five mounds arranged in a linear fashion in a pasture along the bluffs. He reported that Mounds 1, 2, and 3 were 30 by 50 feet long and generally 18 inches in height. Mound 4 was 50 feet in diameter and stood four feet high. Mound 5 measured 40 feet in diameter and measured three feet in height. Wickersham conducted excavations into Mounds 1, 2, and 5 but found no skeletal material or artifacts. He stated that the property owner, Mr. Olcott, had conducted excavations into Mound 4 where he encountered, at the base of the mound, a single human burial. Wickersham stated that Olcott discovered "a skeleton in such a decayed state that only parts of it could be removed. The skull was broken into small pieces. The body had been buried at full length, with the head to the west, in the center of the mound (1885: 828)." However, Olcott found no artifacts within the mound.
Archaeological investigations of the Olcott Mounds site in 1997 by Environmental Compliance Consultants, Inc. resulted in the complete excavation of the five prehistoric mounds assumed to represent mortuary features. During our initial site visit, Mounds 1, 2, and 3 were tree-covered and Mounds 4 and 5 were located in pasture. The only obvious historical disturbance to the site was observed in the area surrounding Mound 3; two hog sheds and evidence of several large wallows and hog rooting was apparent in this area. Upon excavation, field investigations uncovered the fragmentary remains of one human burial from Mound 4; no other human remains were encountered and no other possible burials were identified from the mounds or inter-mound areas of the site. In conjunction with the analogy of other mortuary sites examined in central Illinois and the artifact assemblage, the Olcott Mounds are most similar (based on structure, contents and diversity of form) to other Late Woodland mounds from the Illinois and Mississippi River Valleys. Archaeological investigations at the Olcott Mounds site were initiated by Rochester Investors, Limited prior to construction activities associated with the Woodlands at South Fork located in Rochester, Illinois. Specifically, the Olcott Mounds site was an unregistered cemetery and was afforded protection through the Illinois Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act (20 Illinois Compliled Statures 3440)
THE HEATH HOMESTEAD - A MID-19TH CENTURY HOMESTEAD IN PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
The Heath Homestead site represents the physical remains of a short-duration frontier occupation in Piatt County, Illinois. Archaeological investigations conducted by Environmental Compliance Consultants, Inc., in 2006 resulted in the identification and complete excavation of six subsurface features, including one historic cellar, three brick clamps, a refuse pit, and a circular pit of unknown function. The archival evidence and physical remains associated with the site indicates the Heath Homestead was occupied from the late 1830s thru the early 1860s by the Hiram Heath family who migrated from Ohio. Archaeological data recovery at the Heath Homestead Site was required in order to mitigate the adverse effects of the planned development of a residential subdivision by HDC Engineering of Champaign, Illinois. Specifically, this project was promulgated by the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act (20 ILCS 3420, as amended, 17 IAC 4180) which requires a review of all state funded, permitted, or licensed undertakings for their effect on cultural resources.
THE BRATTLE STREET SITE - AN EARLY LATE WOODLAND HABITATION SITE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Situated on a steep bluff high above a horseshoe bend of the Mississippi River, the Brattle Street site is nearly surrounded by the river. The Brattle Street site is located in the historic town of Nauvoo, which was founded by the Mormon Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Hancock County, Illinois. Archaeological investigations conducted by Environmental Compliance Consultants, Inc., in 2003 resulted in the identification and complete excavation of twenty-three prehistoric pits, and one possible structure dating to the Weaver Phase of the Late Woodland period. Archaeological data recovery at the Brattle Street site was required in order to mitigate the adverse effects of the planned development of a Mobile Home Park by Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated of Nauvoo, Illinois, and to comply with current legislation regarding the management and protection of cultural resources. Specifically, this project was promulgated by the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act (20 ILCS 3420, as amended, 17 IAC 4180), which requires a review of all state funded, permitted, or licensed undertakings for their effect on cultural resources.
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11SG20 - THE ACKERMAN SITE - LOCATED IN SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
E.L. Johnson Construction, Incorporated of Auburn, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of the Ackerman Site (11Sg20), a prehistoric archaeological site located in Sangamon County, Illinois in 1997. Based on the lack of temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Sg20 appeared to date to the Middle Woodland period. A controlled surface collection during phase II testing consisted of seven four meter plow strips across the site area, while mechanical excavations consisted of ten trenches exposing 436.8 square meters of sub-plowzone deposits. Twenty-three prehistoric cultural features were identified following mechanical excavations at the Ackerman Site, however only five were excavated and recovered artifacts dated primarily to the Middle Woodland period. Phase II site evaluations allowed archaeologists to gather sufficient data to determine that 11Sg20 warrants inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, site avoidance or further investigations were recommended in order to prevent impacts to archaeological deposits at site 11Sg20.
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11MP271 - THE FOX FARM SITE - LOCATED IN MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Freeman United Coal Mining Company of Farmersville, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of historic archaeological site 11Mp271 in Macoupin County, Illinois in 2002. Based on the few temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Mp271 appeared to date to the mid to late 19th century period. Mechanical excavation of thirteen test trenches exposing a total of 277.6 square meters during phase II testing exposed eighteen miscellaneous posts and several limestone piers, both possibly representing structural remains of domestic and agricultural buildings, and one feature representing a food storage facility later filled with kitchen refuse. Phase II site evaluations allowed archaeologists to gather sufficient data to determine that the Fox Farm Site (11Mp271) has provided information regarding agricultural practices typical of Girard Township during the last half of the 19th century. It is unlikely that additional archaeological investigations conducted at this site will result in additional significant data. The Fox Farm Site is not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places under criteria ìaî and/or ìd.î
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11SG1298 - INSLEE FARMSTEAD - LOCATED IN SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Martin Engineering of Springfield, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of historic archaeological site 11Sg1298 in Sangamon County, Illinois in 2003. Based on the few temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Sg1298 appeared to date to the Frontier period. Mechanical excavation of three test trenches exposing a total of 263 square meters during phase II testing exposed structural remains of domestic and agricultural buildings, midden deposits, and sub-surface features. Phase II site evaluations allowed archaeologists to gather sufficient data to determine that 11Sg1298 warrants inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Archaeological remains from the Inslee Farmstead Site could contribute to our understanding of the lifeways of early to middle 19th century settlement, farm complex organization and discard patterns in rural Sangamon County, Illinois. As such, site avoidance or further investigations were recommended in order to prevent impacts to archaeological deposits at site 11Sg1298.
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11HA913 LOCATED IN HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated of Nauvoo, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of prehistoric archaeological site 11Ha913 in Hancock County, Illinois in 2003. Based on the few temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Ha913 appeared to date to the Early Archaic period. Mechanical excavation of eight test trenches exposing a total of 182 square meters during phase II testing exposed four features and a moderate amount of artifacts including Middle and Late Woodland cordmarked body sherds, Burlington/Keokuk multidirectional cores, expedient tools, and chert flakes and fire-cracked rock. Phase II site evaluations allowed archaeologists to gather sufficient data to determine that 11Ha913 warrants inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, site avoidance or further investigations were recommended in order to prevent impacts to archaeological deposits at site 11Ha913.
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11PI227 LOCATED IN PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
HDC Engineering of Champaign, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of historic archaeological site 11PI227 in Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois in 2006. Based on the moderately dense scatter of mid-19th century historic material identified during the phase I survey, site 11PI227 appeared to represent the remains of an early to mid 19th century, short-term occupation. Limited excavations during phase II testing exposed three pit features and one historic cellar indicating the presence of a rural farmstead. The archaeological signature coupled with the artifact assemblage suggested a circa 1840s occupation. Based on the results of phase II testing, site 11PI227 was recommended for further work based on the understanding that the site would most likely provide data to address questions regarding the mid 19th century settlement patterns, farm complex organization, and discard patterns of rural Piatt County residence.
