In mid-May of 1998, we received funding to implement an archaeological fieldschool program at Loyola. Thanks to the helpful advice and support of Dr.Rochelle Lurie, president of Midwest Archaeological Research Services, we decided that Macktown in northern Illinois offered a great opportunity for long-term multidisciplinary research and training. Despite short notice, we managed to gather a crew of four students and a few experienced volunteers. Our main goal was to excavate some exploratory test pits on the small hill overlooking the shell midden. We wanted to determine what kind of activities  were conducted in this elevated portion of the site and to learn how deep these deposits extended below the surface. We also hoped to learn whether prehistoric pits, hearths, houses or other constructions could be located and to what extent these deposits had been disturbed by natural and cultural processes.

Looking upstream at the confluence ofthe Rock and Pecatonica Rivers, an extensive deposit of white shells from ancient freshwater mussels can be seen eroding along the south bank. Radiocarbon samples and pottery sherds from these deposits indicate the shell midden dates about 2,000 years old. Aboriginal peoples associated with the Early Woodland Culture collected these mussels from gravel beds in the adjacent river during periods of low water during the summer. We find abundant burned rock and charcoal in the midden, which suggest the mussels were probably steamed open using hot rock cooking techniques similar to a modern clam bake. Overtime, the shell midden was gradually covered with more than one meter of sediment, which moved down from the adjacent hillslope and accumulated during episodes of river flooding. During the past few decades, the river bank and the ancient archaeological site contained in it are being lost to processes of erosion accelerated by modern human activities. This important site is being rapidly destroyed by slumping caused by damming of the Rock River and speeding boat traffic which creates a wake that breaks along the shoreline and undercuts the bank.

Stratigraphic profile maps of the exposed shell midden were drawn by Midwest Archaeological Research Services in 1997. Close examination of the shell midden shows many separate overlapping lenses of shell. These lenses reflect the history of occupation and activity at the site as ancient peoples collected and processed these freshwater mussels. It appears that discardedshells were scattered in small dumps throughout the processsing area. Common mussel species found in the midden include muckets, fat muckets, wartybacks, and pimplebacks. These species are typically associated with gravel beds in fastflowing streams.

We identified a few shell dump features on the bluff site above the midden during our field school in 1998. The identification of these diffuse features requires careful recording and recovery. Using data from nutritional analyses and estimates of the number of mussels at the site, we hope to evaluate the relative contribution of these shellfish to diet of the local inhabitants. But mussels were not the only food eaten by these peoples. We have also found charred plant remains and animal bones in our excavations. On going analysis of the animal bones suggest an emphasis on aquatic resources. Various species of turtles and fish are common although deer, elk, and muskrat have also been identified. Many of the bones are burned and some exhibit butchering marks. Preservation is so good that we have even found fragile fishscales in the midden that are still intact! The heavy emphasis on these aquatic food resources and lack of significant housing evidence leads us to suspect this is a summer habitation. Analysis of the season of death for these animal remains may help us identify the season of occupation at the site.

Typical days are spent doing excavation. It is through this process that students gain many of the basic skills of archaeology. Michael Koos and Rachael Halloran are screening their dirt in 1/4 inch mesh. Brian Wilkens is digging carefully with a trowel (the largest digging implement weuse). We dug in 25 cm quadrants within one meter squares and 10 cm levels and plotted many of the individual artifacts in place. We are using these precise recording strategies to assist our investigation of disturbance and prehistoric activity patterns at the site.

Chris Lippitt (NIU) takes some time to catch up on the abundant paper work required at each step of the excavation process. Archaeologists must proceed carefully and methodically because excavation actually destroys a site and once the context of an object is lost, it is very difficult to reconstruct. Field school students are always surprised by the amount of paperwork done on the spot.

Michael Koos is troweling around a Waubesa dart point, stillin place. This style of point was made by Early Woodland groups around 2,000 years ago which is consistent with the dates from the midden and some of the ceramic sherd types. This find was accurately mapped and photographed before it  was removed from the ground.

Students are trained in standard procedures for gridding a site, establishing excavation units, and mapping topographic maps. Here, Vandana Loomba (UIC volunteer) is using a transit to take elevation readings inone of the excavation units. This summer we also plan to train students in theuse of electronic laser theodolites and GPS devices.

Eventually, some of our excavation units were up to a meterbelow the surface and the archaeological remains keep going! Rachael Halloranshows agility in completing the final scraping before taking photos. The basic sequence of occupation includes a thin veneer of historic artifacts above approximately 50 cm of sediments, which contain abundant stone tool debris, pottery, bones, shells, charcoal, and burned rock. The ceramic artifacts are diagnostic of the Woodland Culture dating from about 2,500 to 1,000 years ago. Below the ceramic zone, we found stone tool debris extending for at least another 50 cm, which may represent the preceeding Archaic Cultures who were hunter-gatherers without pottery. We are hopeful that our ongoing artifact analysis will provide detailed information about the sequence of cultural stratigraphy at the site. We have obtained two radiocarbon dates from our excavations which suggest the site may have been occupied by prehistoric aboriginals from at least 4,500 to 700 years ago.

From each excavated level, we took bulk sediment samples which were placed in a specially contructed water tank called a flotation device. Rachael Halloran and Michael Koos are operating this flotation device which requires careful attention. This process allows recovery of very small objectswhich might otherwise be overlooked. Objects heavier than water sink to thebottom and are caught in window screen. Objects lighter than water (like the tiny seeds from plant foods) are floated off and caught in a fine mesh net. Analysis of the light fraction will require the knowledge of a specialist in the identification of prehistoric plant remains. We do not have results from these samples but are especially interested to find evidence of early domesticated plants, which are a hallmark of the Woodland Culture.

In 1998, we used a hand auger to systematically drill cores across the site. Cores were taken at 10 meter intervals and coring continued until bedrock was reached. As shown in this photo of Michael Koos, some cores were more than 2 meters deep!

Sara Pfannkuche (left), a graduate student from UIC, collected geologic data from the cores that will allow us to develop a subsurface topographic map of the site stratigraphy. Detailed records were kept for the soils, sediments, and artifacts recovered from from the top to the bottom of thecore. These data may also assist our efforts to make estimates of the size, volume, and distribution of the buried shell midden. Students working with Sara were given expert training in the scientific classification and analysis of "dirt."

Skills gained from the augering project were helpful when students conducted the final stratigraphic drawings and profile descriptions of the excavation units. Brian Wilkens and Michael Koos are working together to accurately draw the stratigraphy and disturbances seen this wall profile. Rachael Halloran is working on the final soil and sediment descriptions for the stratigraphic units identified in another unit. Understanding the stratigraphy at the site is critical for our understanding ofthe geologic processes of burial and disturbance. Soil types are also good indicators of the past environment. Our interpretations suggest gradual build-up from leaf liter decay and colluvial processes buried the archaeological remains. The major sources of stratigraphic disturbance at the site are caused by earthworms, burrowing animals, plant roots, and freeze-thaw cycles. Despite these natural disturbances to the soil matrix, the archaeological remains do not appear to have moved very far from their original positions and we are hopeful that we can accurately reconstruct this geologic history of the site.

There is a substantial historic period occupation at the site dating from the mid-19th century village of Macktown. The Whitman Trading Post is one of only two surviving structures from historic Macktown. First built in 1846, this unique stone building was probably built inseveral stages. Extensive restoration and repair work was done prior to 1960 when the DAR placed an historic plaque on the building. Today it serves as theon-site headquarters for the Macktown Living History and Education Center. Archaeological excavations around the trading post have been conducted by Midwest Archaeological Rearch Services. Their work recovered artifacts diagnostic of mid-19th century Euroamerican occupations at Macktown. They also discovered the location of an associated cistern or water storage well behind the building. Midwest Archaeological Research Services plans continued investigation of historic archaeological remains at Macktown this summer withfield school students from Harper College.

Our work at Macktown may ultimately contribute to the long-term educational goals of these local organizations. We have frequent visitors to the site and each day the field school students serve as tour guides and archaeology ambassadors to the local community.

Contact Dr. Daniel Amick at Loyola University Chicago if you are interested in learning more about the 2000 archaeological field school at the Macktown shell midden. We plan to expand our excavations and develop large horizontal exposures.