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Projects Page 1
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NAAI PROJECTS
Since 1996, North American Archaeological Institute has been involved in numerous cutting-edge research projects across America. Included is a brief summary of each project accompanied by several relevant photos.

Lima Lake Survey
NAAI is conducting extensive archaeological surveys and excavations at the Lima Lake Locality of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, 20 miles north of Quincy, Illinois. Lima Lake was an ancient swamp-like lake formed nearly 12,000 years ago by dammed backwaters emanating from Bear Creek to the south and the Mississippi River, which borders to the west. Approximately 5 miles in length and 2 miles in width, the lake was eventually drained in 1930, exposing what is now some of the most fertile farmland in the world.

Because of its ideal ecological location, which provided for an abundant variety of wildlife, Lima Lake became a cultural crossroads where interaction between northern and southern Native American groups occurred. Consequently, this area has produced unique pottery styles not found elsewhere and dense concentrations of artifact types that are rare to absent in more thoroughly studied locations. In short, Lima Lake has tremendous archaeological significance on both a regional and national scale.

NAAI is compiling a permanent database from nearly 500 archaeological sites, documenting a continual 10,000 year long aboriginal presence beginning with the lake’s first inhabitants,

 the late Paleolithic Dalton culture and ending with the area’s last Native American populations, the historic Sauk and Fox tribes of the early nineteenth century.


Excavations at Site 11A80
Site 11A80 is located in northwestern Adams County, Illinois. It is situated on a high terrace remnant at the point where Bear Creek enters the Mississippi River Valley, southeast of Lima Lake. Five years of excavations on this unique Middle and Late Woodland site have yielded exotic Hopewell Interaction Sphere trade items including raw obsidian and several ceramic figurines. A variety of diagnostic Middle and Late Woodland artifacts have been recovered including utilitarian and ceremonial ceramics, and stone and bone tools and weapons. Also, numerous intact pit features containing extremely well preserved fish and animal bones, mussel shell, carbonized wood and plant remains were encountered. Recently, two separate radiocarbon dates have been obtained from wood charcoal samples retrieved from pit features recovered from site 11A80. These tests were performed by the Illinois State Geological Survey at the University of Illinois. Here is a brief description of the features, contents, and radiocarbon results:

 #1 Feature F35 was a 65-centimeter deep, steep-walled basin shaped storage pit that was later converted into a trash pit. F 35 contained a diverse artifact assemblage including 2 Gibson type points, one of which is heat treated, Lamellar bladettes, 2 turkey bone awls, 1 deer bone weaving tool, and Havana straight dentate- stamped ceramics with node decorations. Also recovered were various fish, bird and deer bones, mussel shell, and burned wood (charcoal). From this carbonized wood, which consisted of Red and White Oak, Ash, Hickory and Elm, a C-14 date was obtained.

Radiocarbon results: 1920 (B.P.)+- 70 or 30 A.D. (non-calibrated) / Date calculated from the year 1950

#2 Feature F18 was a shallow, 12-centimeter deep basin shaped pit remnant recognized at the base of a 50-60 centimeter thick Woodland midden deposit. F 18 produced a reconstructable section of a Lacrosse fabric impressed ceramic vessel with node decorations. This pit also contained burned wood (charcoal) consisting of White Oak, Hickory and Black Walnut. From this carbonized wood radiocarbon dates were obtained.

Radiocarbon results: 1530 (B.P.)+- 70 or 420 A.D. (non-calibrated) Date calculated from the year 1950