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News from ISAS

The Illinois State Archaeological Survey protects, preserves, and interprets irreplaceable and non-renewable cultural resources within the context of Illinois’ need to encourage and promote sustainable development. ISAS is a division of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI).

blog posts

  • Extracting history from a cornfield

    Jul 17, 2019 8:30 am

    Illinois News Bureau writer Diana Yates recently participated in an archaeological investigation of an 800-year-old village in central Illinois.

  • Now available: East St. Louis Precinct Mississippian Ceramics

    Jun 4, 2019 10:45 am

    The Illinois State Archaeological Survey proudly announces the release of our latest publication, East St. Louis Precinct Mississippian Ceramics edited by Tamira K. Brennan, Michael Brent Lansdell, and Alleen Betzenhauser with contributions by Alleen Betzenhauser, Tamira K. Brennan, Sarah E. Harken, Michael Brent Lansdell, and Victoria E. Potter.

  • Now available: East St. Louis Precinct Terminal Late Woodland Features

    May 6, 2019 10:30 am

    The investigations at East St. Louis conducted by Illinois State Archaeological Survey for the New Mississippi River Bridge project provided an unprecedented amount of information concerning Terminal Late Woodland habitation in the American Bottom. East St. Louis Precinct Terminal Late Woodland Features, edited by Alleen Betzenhauser, describes insights gained from this project.

  • Scattergood receives Outstanding New Support Staff Award

    Apr 11, 2019 8:00 am

    ISAS archaeological projects coordinator Sarah Scattergood received the Outstanding New Support Staff Award at the 2019 Prairie Research Institute Celebration of Excellence. 

  • Get to know Illinois State Archaeologist Tim Pauketat

    Apr 4, 2019 10:30 am

  • ISAS reprints two popular volumes

    Mar 21, 2019 2:45 pm

    The Illinois State Archaeological Survey has reprinted two popular out-of-print publications and both are available for purchase on Amazon.

  • Preserving the Past in 3D

    Mar 7, 2019 9:30 am

    John Lambert and Alleen Betzenhauser describe how they used a 3D scanner to capture digital images of petroglyphs that were pecked and ground into limestone boulders during the Mississippian Period

  • Pauketat to lead Illinois State Archaeological Survey

    Feb 18, 2019 9:15 am

    Timothy R. Pauketat, a University of Illinois professor of Anthropology, is the new director of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey.

  • 'Revealing Greater Cahokia' details research on ancient North American metropolis

    Jan 22, 2019 9:30 am

    A new book, “Revealing Greater Cahokia, North America’s First Native City,” offers the most complete picture yet of a decade of archaeological research on a little-known part of the larger city and its precincts in East St. Louis. 

  • ‘Native America’ documentary including work by U. of I. researchers at Cahokia to be screened on campus

    Oct 2, 2018 9:45 am

    A new documentary about the cities built by Native Americans features research by University of Illinois anthropologists at the ancient city of Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis. An episode of the documentary will be screened Oct. 10 at Spurlock Museum.