SELECTED FIELD PROJECTS



 




LINCOLN'S PROPERTY
AT
NEW SALEM




The SAC began research excavations at New Salem in 1995, and has examined several sites across the reconstructed village.  A recently discovered document (dating to 1835) indicates that Lincoln actually owned property in New Salem, but the lots identified in the document (#16 and #17) are not part of the original 1829 town plat. In 2004, the Center identified the location of this property, which encompasses the "Offutt Store" and "Clary Grocery" replicas (see "Magnificent Storehouses" on our publications page). It is now believed that Lincoln acquired a half ownership in the business and property previously owned by his employer, Denton Offutt.

The SAC is currently (April-May 2006) conducting excavations at the site, and thus far has identified an undisturbed portion of the original cellar under the store, as well as other early 19th century features and artifacts. Stay tuned!
KENTUCKY HOUSE
TAVERN SITE

Elkhart, Illinois
Located at the base of Elkhart Hill in Logan County, Illinois, the Kentucky House Tavern Site was the home of the Richard Latham family during the mid 1820s through the mid 1850s. Current research suggests that the Lathams converted their log home into a frame tavern sometime between 1835 and 1840. To date, several large features have been encountered at this unplowed archaeological site, including two pit cellars, an earthen-walled cistern closed by 1840, and a well. The deep cistern has produced a significant sample of domestic artifacts dating circa 1820-1840. 

 
EBEY-BRUNK
KILN SITE

Sangamon County, Illinois.
The Center's oldest running research project. The Ebey-Brunk kiln site is the earliest redware kiln site to be examined archaeologically in Illinois. The pottery was established in 1826 by Thomas and William Royal, and later operated by John Neff Ebey and David Brunk. Results of excavations within the waster deposits have been published in our bulletin series, and future investigations are planned for the domestic component of the site.

 
LA VILLE DE MAILLET

Peoria, Illinois.
In the spring of 2004, the SAC conducted limited testing on a lot in downtown Peoria, searching for buried remnants of the "New French Village", or La Ville de Maillet. The village was established in the 1770s, and was abandoned following an attack by American troops during the War of 1812.

Our deep trenches immediately encountered a remarkably well preserved topsoil, buried 5 feet below modern grade. Within this topsoil were concentrations of debris associated with the French village and aboriginal occupations predating the village. A wall trench feature was also encountered. Artifacts include gunflints, redware and creamware, as well as deer, beaver and bison bones. 

More fieldwork is planned at the site, pending additional funding. See also our bulletin on the discovery of the "Old French Village" in 2001.

 
ELIJAH ILES'
STORE SITE

Springfield, Illinois.
Salvage excavations conducted by the Center in 2003 at a construction site in downtown Springfield encountered the partially preserved archaeological remains of the first commercial structure in the city: a general store opened by Elijah Iles (the "founder" of Springfield) in 1821. Our excavations unearthed a stone walled cellar once located beneath the log store building, as well as a second cellar associated with a circa 1824 addition. That feature yielded a number of artifacts dating to the 1820s and 1830s, including flint glass tumblers used to sell liquor by the serving, and a brass hawk bell, used in the Indian trade of the early 1820s.