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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

  • ISAS presents at Allerton Family Camp Out

    Nov 3, 2022 10:00 am

  • ISAS hosts Peoria Tribe visit to Cahokia Mounds

    Jul 22, 2022 8:00 am

  • North ‘plaza’ in Cahokia was likely inundated year-round, study finds

    Jul 21, 2022 8:15 am

    The ancient North American city of Cahokia had as its focal point a feature now known as Monks Mound, a giant earthwork surrounded on its north, south, east and west by large rectangular open areas. These flat zones, called plazas by archaeologists since the early 1960s, were thought to serve as communal areas that served the many mounds and structures of the city.

    New paleoenvironmental analyses of the north plaza suggest it was almost always underwater, calling into question earlier interpretations of the north plaza’s role in Cahokian society. The study is reported in the journal World Archaeology.

  • Alignment, artifacts connect Indiana's Angel Mounds to Ohio's Hopewell culture

    Jul 11, 2022 3:45 pm

  • Watch the May 9th lecture from Dr. John Low, The Ohio State University

    May 23, 2022 1:30 pm

  • Watch the April 11th lecture from Betty Gaedtke, Quapaw Nation

    May 3, 2022 12:30 pm

  • Watch the March 14 lecture from Chief Benjamin Barnes, Shawnee Tribe

    Apr 6, 2022 2:15 pm

    The Intersections of Indigenous Knowledge and Archaeology Speaker Series aims to center Indigenous voices, increase awareness of the deep Native histories of the Eastern Woodlands, and amplify the experiences, research, and knowledge of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and artisans.

    Watch the March 14 lecure by Chief Benjamin Barnes, Shawnee Tribe. 

  • Now hiring! Archaeological Field Technicians

    Mar 8, 2022 7:45 am

    The Illinois State Archaeological Survey seeks Archaeological Field Technicians to fill hourly field crew positions for large-scale Phase I, II, and III projects conducted out of our Central Illinois Field Station in Champaign. These are temporary (with potential of long term), full-time (40 hour/week), non-benefits-eligible, field/laboratory positions that may also involve some additional fieldwork, data processing, and specialized-analysis opportunities. Technicians will need to relocate to the Champaign area.  In-house training in ISAS methods is provided, and lodging and per diem are paid on out-of-town projects.

  • ISAS continues lecture series featuring Native leaders, scholars, and artisans

    Feb 24, 2022 3:00 pm

    This spring the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues the Intersections of Indigenous Knowledge and Archaeology Speaker Series, which aims to center Indigenous voices, increase awareness of the deep Native histories of the Eastern Woodlands, and amplify the experiences,research, and knowledge of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and artisans.

  • The moon's tears fell on Cahokia

    Nov 23, 2021 12:30 pm

    In November, Illinois State Archaeologist Tim Pauketat delivered a lecture sponsored by The Archaeological Conservancy. In his talk, he described insights gained about Cahokia and future plans for outreach and research activities conducted in collaboration with Tribes.