Napoleon Hollow, IL (11PK500) Project

Summary

The Napoleon Hollow site (11PK500) is located in a colluvial fan below the blufftop and in the floodplain adjacent to the lower Illinois River in Pike County, Illinois. The site was excavated in 1979 and 1980 by the Center for American Archeology (Dr. Michael Wiant, Site Director) for the Central Illinois Expressway with funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Archaic deposits were encountered in alluvial deposits in the Illinois River and Napoleon Creek floodplains and in colluvial fan deposits along the Illinois River bluff. Early, Middle, and Late Woodland remains were also preserved but are not presented for this study.

Faunal remains were collected through dry-screening of sediments through 1/4" mesh and flotation with the heavy fraction (which includes the faunal remains) collected in 1/16" mesh.

Early, Middle, and Late Archaic faunal remains are well-preserved. Bones and freshwater mussel shells from test units were identified at the Illinois State Museum by Holly Carr, Mona Colburn, Elliott Lax, and Scott Crye under the direction of Drs. Bonnie Styles and James R. Purdue. Dr. Styles identified all freshwater mussels and all feature fauna. Remains were compared to modern specimens in the Museum's extensive Faunal Comparative Collection. Identifications were verified by Dr. Styles (freshwater mussels, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and large and medium mammals) and Dr. Purdue (small mammals).

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Prairie Peninsula   •
• Eastern Archaic Faunal Working Group

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Radiocarbon Date: 6880 to 6720 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-817, Napoleon component)

Radiocarbon Date: 6800 to 6660 (uncalibrated RCYP, ISGS-937, Napoleon component)

Radiocarbon Date: 5390 to 5250 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-2331, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 6730 to 6530 (uncalibrated RCYP, ISGS-786, Napoleon component)

Radiocarbon Date: 5350 to 5210 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-1038, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 7190 to 6919 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-814, Middle Archaic component)

Radiocarbon Date: 5250 to 5110 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-2328, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 4135 to 3985 (uuncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-823, Titterinton componett)

Radiocarbon Date: 5420 to 5280 (uncalibrated RCYP, ISGS-938, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 5210 to 5070 (uncalibrated RCYBP, ISGS-1036, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 5760 to 5580 (uncalibrated RCBP, ISGS-806, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 6170 to 5990 (uncalibrated RCYP, ISGS-972, Helton component)

Radiocarbon Date: 7250 to 6750 (uncalibrated RCYBP, NRSL-299, Napoleon component)

Radiocarbon Date: 4010 to 3830 (uncalibrated RCYPB, ISGS-933, Titterington component)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Mona Colburn

Field Director(s): Michael D. Wiant

Project Director(s): Bonnie Styles

Source Collections

Illinois State Museum