Rockford: Northern Illinois Survey Division (NISD)

11L730

11L730 was located during phase I survey for CH20 Peterson Road improvements. Situated in central Lake County, 11L730 is a small, mid-19th century farmstead associated with the Bartle family, ca. 1845–1875 (Figure 4). The site includes a small subfloor cellar, an exterior "keyhole" cellar, and a well (Figure 5). To date, ITARP has investigated few mid-19th century farmsteads in northeastern Illinois. 11L730 provides a good sample of a conservative, antebellum/war-era farmstead. Analysis of excavated materials is ongoing.

Figure 4. Eastern view of mechanical blading-sub-floor cellar in foreground – 11L730.

Figure 5. Exterior “keyhole” cellar post-excavation – 11L730.

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Dutcher I, II, and III (11LE72, 11LE73, and 11LE74)

11LE72, 11LE73, and 11LE74 were identified during the Phase I survey for FAS 1184, the Rockyford Road bridge replacement over the Green River with intersection improvements at River View and Newman Roads near Amboy in Lee County (Figure 6).

Dutcher I, II, and III sites are each associated within the mid-19th century commercial hamlets of Rockyford and Shelburn. Located near the road from Dixon to Peru recorded on the 1843 GLO, the Dutcher sites are affiliated with two eras of occupation.

Figure 6. Southern view of mechanical blading at Dutcher I site (11LE72).

The earliest component is the ca. 1835–45 "Perkins Mill" era, related to domestic and commercial activities associated with a sawmill on the Green River. Included in this component are at least one residence and a short-term blacksmith shop. The blacksmith shop has been excavated in its entirety and has produced a large sample of forged iron debris.

The second component, affiliated with the platted communities of Rockyford and Shelburn (ca 1845–1870), has thus far produced several large features that contain artifacts that appear to relate to both domestic and commercial contexts. The features themselves include three sub-floor probable residential cellars, a fourth very large sub-floor cellar likely associated with commercial activities (Figure 7 and 8), animal processing pits, a cistern (Figure 9), four privies, several fence lines, and various other features of unknown function. The mid-century materials from these features include a range of refined ceramics, regionally made stonewares, alcohol and tumbler glass, and kaolin pipe bowl and stem fragments. The large sub-floor cellar contained numerous Bristol-marked beer bottles and wine bottles with intact stoppers (Figure 10). The cistern has produced a number of large vessel sections, buttons, and a unique pipe fragment (Figure 11). An additional area has produced blacksmithing material ranging from large hand-forged tools and hardware to small pieces of blacksmithing scrap and large amounts of clinkers. Excavation and analysis of the sites is currently in progress.

Figure 7. Plan view of cellar.

Figure 8. Foundation wall from cellar.

Figure 9. Profile from F26 (cistern).

Figure 10. Beer bottles from F. 26 Dutcher II site (11Le73).

Figure 11. Buttons, pendant, and pipe bowl recovered from F26 (above).

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11WI3037 and 11WI897

11WI3037 and 11WI897 were identified during Phase I survey for the extension of 95th Street from Naperville/Plainfield to Boughton Road in Will County, Illinois. 11WI3037 is 0.52 acres in size and is located on a broad terrace 50 meters north of the DuPage River. During initial shovel testing of 11WI3037, grit-tempered ceramics and various tools and chert debitage were recovered. The ceramics were severely eroded; consequently the decoration and surface treatment were not distinguishable. The overall artifact assemblage is indicative of a Woodland/Mississippian temporal affiliation. Hand units excavated within 11WI3037 identified an additional Late Archaic component based on recovery of Matanzas and Trimble/Riverton point (Figure 12).

Figure 12. Matanzas and Trimble/Riverton points recovered from 11WI3037.

11WI897 is located within a fallow field on a low terrace 45 meters north of the DuPage River. Previous surveys have produced diagnostics from the Early, Middle, and Late Archaic periods. During the initial survey by ITARP for the of 95th Street extension, 11WI897 increased in size from 0.66 to 2.28 acres. Addition material recovered by ITARP during a controlled surface collection consists of chert debitage, chert and groundstone tools, and FCR. No additional diagnostic material was recovered at this time. Further investigations of these sites may follow in the upcoming field seasons.

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Crosstown Avenue site (11RI693)

The Crosstown Avenue site is located between Silvis and Carbon Cliff on flat uplands at the edge of a small intermittent stream that drains into the Rock River approximately 2 km to the east. Testing produced a single Late Archaic cluster comprised of 24 pit features, with diagnostic artifacts similar to Sedalia and Nebo Hill material from western Illinois (see Western Illinois Survey Division Current Research). The Crosstown Avenue site is the oldest and most northern Late Archaic site in Illinois with a Titterington-like tool assemblage to produce radiocarbon dates. Three features produced radiocarbon dates (cal. 2470 B.C. and cal. 2560, 2540, 2500 B.C.) that fall at the later end of dates produced from other Titterington-age sites (e.g. Billboard Flats, Ursa Major, Hayden, Penstone, George Reeves).

A total of 7739 pieces of flaking debris weighing 5502.6 g was recovered during feature, test unit, and block excavation. Eighty-five percent of the debitage was recovered from feature contexts; however, only 43% by weight was recovered in features. Also recovered were more than 2357 pieces of igneous/metamorphic fire-cracked rock, 769 pieces of burnt sandstone, 11 pieces of burnt limestone, 126 pieces of burnt clay, 789 unburnt igneous/metamorphic, sandstone and limestone rocks, 51 small pieces of hematite, and 14 small pieces of limonite. The tool assemblage consists of eight Sedalia/Nebo Hill point fragments (Figure 13), four Sedalia/Nebo Hill preforms/knives, one bi-pointed knife, four drill fragments (Figure 14), 11 wedges, 18 biface/biface fragments, one formal scraper/perforator made on a flake, and 127 intentionally modified flakes. Eight groundstone tools were recovered, consisting of two sandstone abraders (Figure 15), two manos, one abrader/mano, one axe bit, and two hammerstones. Twenty-five of 47 formal tools were recovered from feature contexts; fifteen were from three features yielding radiocarbon assays.

Figure 13. Sedalia/Nebo Hill-like points – Crosstown Avenue site (11RI693).

Figure 14. Drills – Crosstown Avenue site (11RI693).

Figure 15. Sandstone abraders – Crosstown Avenue site (11RI693).

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Glacier Shadow Pass Survey
Previous investigations of 11OG234 along the Rock River floodplain were comprised of pedestrian survey and minimal oakfield coring. One hafted biface temporally affiliated with the Early/Middle Archaic was previously located during pedestrian survey. Given the close proximity to a large mound group and the high probability for intact subsurface features based on the presence of diagnostic material and a large quantity of chert debitage, backhoe trenching within the site area was undertaken for the proposed realignment of IL2. Our subsequent investigations revealed two Early Archaic pit features and an intact living surface.

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11OG234
Previous investigations of 11OG234 along the Rock River floodplain were comprised of pedestrian survey and minimal oakfield coring. One hafted biface temporally affiliated with the Early/Middle Archaic was previously located during pedestrian survey. Given the close proximity to a large mound group and the high probability for intact subsurface features based on the presence of diagnostic material and a large quantity of chert debitage, backhoe trenching within the site area was undertaken for the proposed realignment of IL2. Our subsequent investigations revealed two Early Archaic pit features and an intact living surface.

The Early Archaic living surface, located approximately 40 to 50 cm below ground surface within a 3.5 x 4.5 m area, was identified by the presence of high concentrations of chert debitage (n=1047) and two Early Archaic Kirk Corner-notched points (Figure 27). Dense chert debitage concentrations were noted during excavation and may represent discrete activity areas resulting from a single depositional episode. Three broken bifaces of the most ubiquitous chert were also located during shovel skimming.

Unfortunately, no carbonized botanicals to date have been recovered from flotation samples to submit for radiocarbon dating. Dated Kirk horizons, as well as other dated Early Archaic sites, are absent from northern Illinois. Other Kirk Horizons from sites in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States have produced radiocarbon dates from 9450 to 8600 B.P. uncorrected, and is likely the approximate age range for 11OG234.

Figure 27. Hafted Bifaces from 11OG234: a. Kirk Corner-notched; b. Kirk variant.

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11WT216
An archaeological survey for the FAU 5548 (Lynn Blvd) extension for IDOT was undertaken by ITARP in the summer of 1988. Surface collections on a previously recorded multi-component site – 11WT216 – indicated a Middle to Late Archaic concentration of materials in the western half of the site and Upper Mississippian (Langford) materials throughout the eastern portion. The site is located on a west-facing terrace overlooking Elkhorn Creek, six meters above the floodplain. Testing of approximately 627 sq m (4%) of 11WT216 in the summer of 2003 revealed eight moderate to shallow basin features within the site boundaries. The site has been subjected to severe erosion due to farming activities on the terrace. The shallow nature of the features and the soil profiles of the excavation blocks clearly demonstrated the severity of the erosion at 11WT216.

The investigations confirmed the temporal affiliation of 11WT216. One large section of a Langford trailed globular shaped vessel was uncovered within Feature 4 (Figure 28). The remaining features yielded sparse quantities of lithic and grit-tempered ceramic material that conform to the characteristics of the Langford tradition; however, diagnostic lithic material was not recovered from any of these features.

Figure 28. Langford Trailed Globular Shaped Vessel.

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Caton Farm/Bruce Road (FAU0292)
ITARP personnel have initiated field investigations for the four-lane road, bike trail, and bridge alignment in Will County. The project involves a new crossing of the Des Plaines River, Sanitary & Ship Canal, and I&M canal from U.S. 30 and Caton Farm east across the river valley to an undetermined location and north to IL 7. To date, seven alternative alignments have been designated within this 240 acre project. Pedestrian survey has been completed on all but two alignments. Two hundred acres have been surveyed and 35 sites and 29 find spots have been recorded. Seventeen of these sites are prehistoric unknown. The remaining sites are temporally affiliated with the following; one Paleoindian, three general Archaic sites, six Early Archaic sites, one Middle Woodland site, one Middle to Late Woodland site, and three Late Woodland to Mississippian sites (see Figure 29).

Figure 29. Hafted Bifaces from Will County. (a. St. Charles; b. Kirk Corner-notched; c. Lowe flared base; d. Triangular)

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