Ancient Village Found Under Soil In Illinois

[Adze39]

Ancient Village Found Under Soil In Illinois

POSTED: 10:46 p.m. EDT April 20, 2003

DAMIANSVILLE, Ill. -- Beneath an Illinois hillside, digging crews have found the remnants of a 1,200-year-old village.

They unearthed hundreds of stone arrowheads, pottery fragments, a keyhole-shaped house and what appears to be a small village near Damiansville, about 35 miles east of St. Louis.

A state archaeologist calls it a "significant" find.

"Keyhole" houses are dwellings made of clay and logs with rooms half submerged in the ground. The large, dome-shaped living area at one end was reached by a long, straight, covered entrance, giving rise to the name "keyhole."

Debris from their ancient garbage pits shows the inhabitants ate venison and turkey, plus what are today considered weeds.

The hillside was being excavated because the landowner wants to sell its dirt to the state as fill for a nearby highway project.

[jboczek]

This place is only about 40 miles from me. The news showed several archaeologists digging with their little trowels. This is really something to find down here. It's fairly close to the Cahokia Mounds which was thought to be about the oldest down here. This is even older than the mounds. They showed piles of stuff that they dug up. It's a big deal.

[Adze39]

See...I even post flatlander news before you guys do!!! How can you doubt I belong? :D

[RspctFrmCalgary]

That's pretty cool :)

[jboczek]

Adze, this isn't even FIRE news. It's an interesting story and a big deal, but it has nothing to do with fire. If I was an Indian, I'd probably be more excited about it, but, hey, I'm Polish.

[Dalmatian90]

I'm thinking Adze was just pointing out that past generations of inhabitants of Illinois also just left cellars behind.:p

(Dal runs now. Fast.)

[jboczek]

I can understand why the CT forum has had problems. Now they're trying to start some here. Just take your 4 legged spotted critters and go back East. We don't need outsiders insulting us. We do a fine enough job of that all by ourselves.

[trainer]

Time out; I may have to rethink my vote. Seems Adze is draging in rif -raf:rolleyes:

[pumper41]

Yes, but the question is ...What did they find in the 1200 year old firehouse...??? The original crusty old jake????... Elkskin turnouts???...:D

[F18Wub]

Originally posted by pumper41
Yes, but the question is ...What did they find in the 1200 year old firehouse...??? The original crusty old jake????... Elkskin turnouts???...:D

which goes to show that even 1200 years ago, dead animal skins are the preferred method of personal protection.

[Adze39]

So Dal, you are saying the tradition of firefighting style in the flatland started 1200 years ago and continues on today? :D

jboczek: I'm Polish too...we're kindred! How can you vote against your own people?

[jboczek]

Just wanted to update this story. It seems that this is getting blown way out of proportion. The head Illinois archaeologist guys say they find these things all the time. This is just one that got picked up by the news people and they ran with it. Even made CNN. So its not really a big deal, although it is still important to the archaeologists.
Adze, I can't help it if I voted against our own. I voted my conscience. You guys have even managed to get the dude from Wales to post here. I just dare somebody from Idaho to try to post something here.
I just re-read your last post. We don't talk about each other like that. Everybody that voted for Adze, LOOK AT WHAT HE'S SAYING ABOUT US!!!

[jboczek]

Just wanted to update this story. It seems that this is getting blown way out of proportion. The head Illinois archaeologist guys say they find these things all the time. This is just one that got picked up by the news people and they ran with it. Even made CNN. So its not really a big deal, although it is still important to the archaeologists.
Adze, I can't help it if I voted against our own. I voted my conscience. You guys have even managed to get the dude from Wales to post here. I just dare somebody from Idaho to try to post something here.
I just re-read your last post. We don't talk about each other like that. Everybody that voted for Adze, LOOK AT WHAT HE'S SAYING ABOUT US!!!