This bone needle was found during a recent dig in the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC). The site was a large Native American farming village at a critical point in American history. It was the first archaeological site officially recorded in this portion of Illinois and is the “type site” for the “Huber Cultural Phase” (ca. AD 1450-1640).
Staff from the Northern Illinois Field Station, along with volunteers, collaborated with FPCC to investigate and restore the site in June. Native habitat restoration together with careful removal of underbrush across the archaeological site area can create sightlines to aid in the monitoring of the site by Forest Preserve staff and stewards and therefore discourage looting activity. ISAS and FPCC have used this approach on other parcels throughout the preserves.
In addition to the bone needle, archaeologists found stone tools, ceramic vessel fragments, and bone and shell tools.
Read more about this investigation and restoration project.
