Between 1940 and 1975, Gregory Perino conducted substantial excavations at over 30 Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland (Hopewellian), Late Woodland, and Mississippian mound groups, cemeteries, and habitation sites in west-central Illinois, focusing his efforts on Hopewellian and Late Woodland mound excavations. The great majority of his contemporary reports on this work have remained unpublished, with various more-or-less complete draft manuscripts circulating widely among interested researchers.
For the first time, the editors of SIA #4 bring together 18 of Perino’s Middle and Late Woodland excavation manuscripts for publication. The volume begins with an introductory historical and bibliographical essay by Kenneth Farnsworth summarizing the history and focus of Perino’s work in the context of developments in Illinois archaeology during the 1950s-1970s. The 100-page Farnsworth introduction and the 18 Perino site excavation chapters of this ambitious volume report on excavations at three Middle Woodland habitation sites [Snyders, Apple Creek, and North], 12 Hopewellian mound groups [Meppen, Bedford, Montezuma, Pilot Peak, Helm, Swartz, Kraske, North, Peisker, Schafner, Gibson, Joe Gay], two Middle/Late Woodland mound groups [Carter and L’Orient], four Late Woodland mound groups [Yokem, Homer Adams, Lawrence Gay, Hacker], a buried Early Archaic habitation midden [Stilwell II], and a Terminal Archaic Red Ochre mortuary site [Collinsville].
SIA #4 reflects the outcome of years of effort on the part of Kenneth Farnsworth and Michael Wiant to track down, assemble, and edit complete manuscript copies of Perino's draft reports, and to locate and prepare final publishable versions of over 230 associated excavation maps, excavation photos, and artifact illustrations. The volume also includes reprints of three associated faunal reports by Paul W. Parmalee and Richard G. Rawlins, reprints of seven related early reports that originally saw only limited distribution, two extensive annotated bibliographies, a detailed subject index, and original research contributions by Della Collins Cook, Thomas E. Emerson, Kristin Hedman, and Ann Palkovich.
REVIEWER COMMENTS
This monumental volume, edited by Kenneth Farnsworth and Michael Wiant, well illustrates the first sentence of Farnsworth’s Introduction: “From 1950 to 1975, Gregory Perino was a fact of life and a force of nature in Illinois archaeology.” The volume provides an insightful, readable, and eminently useful presentation of the vast body of data that came from the energy of this force. Data from the ground is archaeology. Interpretations of that data change as technical methods and intellectual views change. An appreciation of past interpretations and changes, particularly before a venture into considering new ones, comes from knowledge of the context in which these interpretations were made. Part of this context is the data itself, which does not change, but too frequently is difficult to impossible to find, and in the instance of Perino’s excavations of human burials, likely impossible to replicate by new field work. Unpublished maps, notes and photographs; summaries of other work; new colored photographs; technical analyses by collaborators; extensive bibliographies and more have been skillfully put together. The volume is a recognition of Perino’s invaluable legacy in a format that facilitates building on that legacy.
---Dr. N’omi Greber, Curator of Archaeology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Gregory Perino’s excavations in the Illinois River Valley are critical to developing a synthetic understanding of Illinois Hopewell. Unfortunately, few of Perino’s excavations were ever fully reported. Farnsworth and Wiant have made an important contribution to archaeology by finally preparing reports of these important excavations. Kenneth Farnsworth has used his exceptional knowledge and experience to perceptively translate field notes from an earlier generation into useful reports on excavation of Illinois River Hopewell sites. Very few archaeologists could successfully undertake a project of this type, and Farnsworth has done Midwestern archaeology an immense service. This volume is a necessity for any archaeologist with an interest in Hopewell or Illinois archaeology.
---Dr. Mark Lynott, Midwest Archeological Center, National Park Service
What a treasure! This enormous volume brings together the results of Greg Perino’s quarter century of mound excavations at 17 sites in west-central Illinois, most of which had never before been published. Pieced together from Perino’s manuscript reports and photographs and the memories and notes of colleagues and students, this is a monumental archaeological jigsaw puzzle with some pieces still missing, but offering a view of an archaeological career and discoveries that can never be replicated. Profusely illustrated with over 400 plates and figures and supplemented by a detailed 12-page index, Illinois Hopewell and Late Woodland Mounds will forever change the way we think about the mounds and mound builders of the Midwest.
---Dr. John R. Halsey, State Archaeologist, Michigan Historical Center
Over a period of several decades, Greg Perino—an indefatigable and remarkably perceptive excavator—dug many mounds in and around the Illinois River valley. His work laid the foundation for much of our current understanding of the prehistory of the region, in large part because it resulted in a contextually secure body of material used in numerous subsequent problem-specific studies. But until now, these excavations in all their rich detail have been known to altogether too few archaeologists. As one who learned so much from Greg, I’m especially pleased to see his important work now in print. Ken Farnsworth and Mike Wiant, by pulling these manuscripts together, have made a singular contribution to Illinois archaeology.
---Dr. George Milner, Professor of Archaeological Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University
It with great pleasure that ITARP announces the publication of its newest Studies in Archaeology volume Illinois Hopewell and Late Woodland Mounds: The Excavations of Gregory Perino 1950-1975. The content of this volume, representing a compilation of Perino’s essential manuscripts from twenty-five years of excavations in Illinois mortuary sites, had lingered unpublished for more than thirty years. During that time sections of the manuscript, and many maps and photographs had disappeared. It required more than two years of intensive detective work, archaeological investigation, and archival and collections visits across the mid-continent by Senior Editor Kenneth Farnsworth and extensive graphic work by ITARP’s production staff to create the present volume. The result of this tremendous effort has been to bring to light a lost episode of Illinois archaeology that had hitherto been unavailable to the archaeological community and the public at large. ITARP is pleased to have been able to support and fund this multi-year effort. The publication of Perino’s research along with an earlier volume in this series Early Hopewell Mound Explorations: The First Fifty Years in the Illinois River Valley represent major contributions to our understanding of the Hopewell phenomenon in the midcontinent.
---Dr. Thomas E. Emerson, Series Editor and Director, ITARP
If you are interested in Gregory Perino's work on the Pete Klunk mound group, please see IAS Bulletin #6, Hopewell and Woodland Site Archaeology in Illinois. |
