Illinois Archaeology Lecture Series

Northern Illinois University’s Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dana Bardolph will present Excavating Mississippian Origins in the Illinois Valley as this month’s Illinois Archaeology lecture, on Sunday, September 17th at 2:00 p.m.

Archaeologists have long been fascinated by the rise of Cahokia (1050-1500 CE), the largest pre-colonial Native American city north of Mexico, and the corresponding interactions of Indigenous communities and spread of Mississippian culture across the Midwestern and Southeastern U.S. after 1000 A.D. This talk will highlight Mississippian origins and the history of culture contact with Cahokia’s northern neighbors in Central Illinois River Valley. Bardolph will present data from three years of excavations at Fandel Mounds, the earliest Mississippian mound center in the Peoria Lake area, which was founded simultaneously with Cahokia ca. 1050 CE. Data from Fandel allows us to effectively redraw the arrows of Mississippian influence that historically have pointed outward in considering why people and objects wind up in regions outside Cahokia, and instead challenge us to consider the ways in which interactions with other Indigenous groups helped generate aspects of Mississippian culture—in the Illinois Valley, in the greater Cahokia area, and beyond.  

The lecture begins promptly at 2:00 p.m. followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to meet with the speaker and museum staff.  Admission is free; however, donations are appreciated.  Registration is not required.