Longtime researcher Alleen Betzenhauser has been named the new director of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey and Illinois State Archaeologist at the Prairie Research Institute.

Betzenhauser began her career with ISAS in 2002 as a graduate research assistant while completing her doctorate in anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has been part of the research staff at the survey’s American Bottom Field Station since 2006 and has served as coordinator of the field station for the last seven years.

“I’m excited for the future of ISAS,” she said. “I have been a part of the ISAS team for over 20 years and have seen it grow and change. It will be important for us to work together to face challenges and identify new opportunities — together we can make it happen.”

She has extensive experience conducting and supervising field work, analysis, and reporting for excavations in the American Bottom region in southwestern Illinois. Among those projects was the New Mississippi River Bridge project in East St. Louis, which was known for being the largest archaeological excavation in the U.S. at the time.

Betzenhauser’s research explores the ways Indigenous people lived about 1,000 years ago in what is known today as Illinois. Through investigating the material remains of their settlements — including architecture, pottery, and foodstuffs — we can better understand the processes of urbanization and community development.

In recent published research in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Betzenhauser  and colleague, research analyst Madeleine Evans, discuss nixtamalization — a process used to improve the nutrition and digestibility of corn — in and near Cahokia as the city “grew to prominence as the first and largest Indigenous city north of Mesoamerica (ca. 900–1100 CE).” The authors found that artifacts unearthed during the New Mississippi River Bridge project indicate this process was used at Cahokia more than 1,000 years ago using pottery and limestone unique to the region.

This type of research goes to the heart of the survey’s mission to investigate, preserve, and interpret the state’s archaeological heritage by documenting past cultural practices and knowledge and sharing the results of research. It also provides information that can help descendant communities revitalize cultural practices, like cuisine and pottery making in the case of Betzenhauser’s work.

“One of the most important aspects of ISAS’s mission and the Office of the State Archaeologist is to advocate for the cultural heritage of Illinois for descendant and local communities,” Betzenhauser said. “Illinois has a diverse and sometimes difficult history with implications that reverberate today. We at ISAS have an opportunity and responsibility to not only document, protect, and advocate for archaeological and architectural heritage in Illinois, but also facilitate connections between present-day communities and the past, particularly for descendant communities.”

Betzenhauser has worked with descendant communities to build connections and collaboration and has worked with communities on active archaeological excavations, such as with the continuing work in Brooklyn, Illinois. One of the first free African American towns in the country, Brooklyn was incorporated in the early 1800s. ISAS has been working with local partners to nominate Brooklyn for the National Register of Historic Places and to connect residents with their town’s past to create a sense of place and community.

Betzenhauser began her research in Illinois under the guidance of retiring Director and State Archaeologist Tim Pauketat. Pauketat was a professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for 20 years before serving as ISAS director and State Archaeologist from 2019 to 2025. Betzenhauser said his ongoing support and confidence in her have been invaluable as they have learned and worked together as colleagues over many years.

“Tim has made a big impact on our research trajectory and personnel development,” she reflected. “His knowledge of American Bottom archaeology will always impress, and I hope I can continue fostering new research and expanding on the survey’s capabilities and reach.”

The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.