ARBOR CREEK - THREE PREHISTORIC HABITATION SITES ALONG LILY CACHE CREEK AND THE DUPAGE RIVER VALLEY
Archaeological investigations conducted by Environmental Compliance Consultants, Inc., in 2001 resulted in the archaeological mitigation of a portion of sites 11Wi71, 11Wi1617, and 11Wi1619 in preparation for the proposed development and construction of the Arbor Creek Residential Subdivision in Plainfield, Illinois by Beechen and Dill Builders of Burr Ridge, Illinois. Archaeological mitigation was initiated in order 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 Illinois Compiled Statutes 3420), which requires a review of all state funded, permitted, or licensed undertakings for their effect on cultural resources.
POTTAWATOMIE BURIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BELTED KINGFISHER SITE- LOCATED IN WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
During mechanical excavations associated with the phase II evaluation of archaeological site 11Wi1657 ñ the Belted Kingfisher Site ñ located within the proposed Interstate Chemical Company project in Will County, Illinois, ECC archaeologistís uncovered human remains. Human remains represented a bundle burial of a male, age 18-24, and several individual graves with skeletal elements were exposed. Based on the presence of 106 black and 7 white monochromatic drawn beads and a white opaque glass spiral wound necklace bead in association with the bundle burial it was determined that the Native American human remains dated to the middle 18th to early 19th century which coincides with the Pottawatomi occupation of northeastern Illinois.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 11GR261 AND 11GR262 LOCATED IN GRUNDY COUNTY, ILLINOIS
11GR261 Based on the few temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Gr261 appeared to date to the Pioneer and Frontier periods of the early to mid 19th century within a prehistoric unknown component. Mechanical excavation consisted of removing the plowzone exposing site area roughly 110 meters by 80 meters. During phase II testing a single feature was exposed that appeared to represent the remains of a shallow cellar. A very low density of historic artifacts was recovered from this feature indicating a short-term occupation at the site.
11GR262 Based on the few temporally diagnostic artifacts recovered during the phase I survey, site 11Gr262 appeared to date to the Pioneer and Frontier periods of the early to mid 19th century within an Early Archaic and Late Woodland prehistoric component. Mechanical excavation consisted of removing the plowzone exposing site area roughly 43 meters by 51 meters. During phase II testing a single rectangular feature was exposed that appeared to represent the remains of a shallow cellar. A very low density of historic artifacts was recovered from this feature indicating a short-term occupation at the site.
Rogina & Associates of Joliet, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of prehistoric and historic component archaeological sites 11Gr261 and 11Gr262 in Grundy County, Illinois in 2004. Phase II site evaluations allowed archaeologists to gather sufficient data to determine that 11Gr261 and 11Gr262 were most likely short-term pioneer settlements abandoned by their occupants, presumably squatters, after the property was deemed ìCanal Landî. Mechanical excavations at both sites exposed the complete suite of subsurface features present and the entire artifact assemblage has been retrieved and documented. As such, it is our opinion the both sites have been sufficiently investigated and further excavation of the site areas would be unfruitful in generating additional significant information.
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11KE542 LOCATED IN KENDALL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Whitetail Development, L.L.C., of Oswego, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of prehistoric archaeological site 11Ke542 near Yorkville, Kendall County, Illinois in 2004. Based on the recovery of several projectile points and grit-tempered pottery during the phase I survey, site 11Ke542 appeared to date from the late Woodland to upper Mississippian periods. However, mechanical trenching at site 11Ke542 during phase II testing failed to produce intact cultural deposits. Although the artifacts encountered during the controlled surface collection included a moderate assemblage of lithic material including an early Woodland projectile point and grit-tempered ceramic sherds, all were derived from a plowzone context. The lack of prehistoric features at the site further suggested that either the prehistoric utilization of this site (if any) did not result in the excavation or construction of storage, structural or waste disposal facilities, or that on-going agricultural activities coupled with erosion has considerably depleted the plowzone associated with the site. As such, no further work was suggested for this site.
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11KE543 - THE HOPKINS SITE - LOCATED IN KENDALL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Whitetail Development, L.L.C., of Oswego, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of historic archaeological site 11Ke543 near Yorkville, Kendall County, Illinois in 2004. Based on the scatter of historic artifacts coupled with the presence of a structure with the vicinity of site 11Ke543 on the 1859 historical atlas, it appears the site represent the remains of a mid 19th century occupation. However, mechanical trenching at site 11Ke543 during phase II testing failed to produce intact cultural deposits. As such, no further work was suggested for this site.
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11KA67 LOCATED IN KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
M. Gingerich Gereaux & Associates of Bradley, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation on prehistoric archaeological site 11Ka67 in Kankakee County, Illinois in 2005. Positioned within undisturbed forest along the east banks of Davis Creek, site 11Ka67 was first reported by Leland Bray, an avocational archaeologist, who extensively surveyed this area of the Kankakee River during the 1960s. Bray described the site as an Upper Mississippian and historic village and campsite on a bluff above Davis Creek encompassing an area of approximately 257,608 square meters. In addition, several secondary historical sources indicate that a Pottawatomi base camp was located along ìDavis Creekî or within ìCooperís Woods.î Based on Brays investigations, the site marker suggesting a Pottawatomi Indian campsite identified by ECC, Inc., the presence of the Me-she-ke-ten-o Reservation within the project area, and the artifact assemblage, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency determined site 11Ka67 to be potentially eligible for nomination to the NRHP. During the phase II testing, five trenches or 154.53 m2 of sub-plowzone deposits were exposed during mechanical excavations within the agricultural fields and 35 square meters were hand-excavated within the timbered portion of site 11Ka67. No cultural materials or deposits were exposed during mechanical excavations. However, a total of 86 prehistoric artifacts were recovered during screening of unit soils within the timber portion of the site and one cultural feature was identified. Based on the results of phase II testing, further investigations within the agricultural use areas of site 11Ka67 would not result in the acquisition of additional significant information. However, the timbered portion of the site should go undisturbed by construction activities. It was suggested that a preservation covenant be attached to the legal title of property that would limit ground disturbing activities within the confines of that portion of the site. As such, site avoidance or further investigations were recommended in order to prevent impacts to archaeological deposits at site 11Ka67.
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11KA45 LOCATED IN KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Prairie State Construction, Inc. of Manhattan, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation on a portion of prehistoric archaeological site 11Ka45 in Kankakee County, Illinois in 2005. Situated on a sand ridge within an agricultural field on the south side of the Kankakee River, site 11Ka45 was first recorded by a local artifact collector, Mark McConaughy, in 1973. A total of 276 m2 of sub-plowzone deposits or five trenches were exposed by mechanical excavations during phase II testing. Mechanical trenching at site 11Ka45 failed to produce sub-surface features. The controlled surface collection and mechanical excavations conducted at site 11Ka45 produced sparse evidence of the sites prehistoric use and the nature of the artifact assemblage did not lend itself to an in-depth study of ceramics or lithic tools used by the past inhabitants of the site. Although the artifacts encountered during excavation at the site included a moderate assemblage of lithic material including chert tools and biface fragments, fire-cracked rock, and cobble hammerstones, all were derived from a plowzone context clustered within a very small portion of the site. Based on the results of the phase II testing, this portion of site 11Ka45 did not result in the excavation or construction of storage, structural, or waste disposal facilities which would have remained intact following agricultural activities. As such, no further work was suggested.
HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 11KE674 - THE EGLINGTON SITE - LOCATED IN KENDALL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Pulte Homes of Oswego, Illinois, granted the contract to conduct a Phase II National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility evaluation of the Eglington Site just north of County Route 9 (Galena Road) and west of Rob Roy Creek in Kendall County, Illinois in 2005. Based on the relatively dense scatter of mid-19th century historic material identified during the phase I survey, the Eglington Site appeared to represent the remains of an early to mid 19th century, short-term occupation. Mechanical excavation of seven test trenches exposing a total of 320.6 square meters during phase II testing revealed an intact historic occupation dating from the middle to late 19th century. In addition to numerous temporally diagnostic artifacts including blue transfer print whiteware, annular yellowware, undecorated whiteware, red sponge decorated whiteware, metal, glass, and charcoal, limited excavations during phase II testing exposed a well and the subsurface remains of a builderís trench and in situ limestone pier associated with a structure and cellar. Based on the fact the Eglington site was situated on the Chicago-Galena Road, one of the most important trails in Illinois, and the sub-surface features identified during test trenching, it appears the site represents a short-duration, rural residence or establishment dating to the mid 19th century. As such, site avoidance or further investigations were recommended in order to prevent impacts to archaeological deposits at site 11Ke674.
