Larson Site
Archaeological site in Illinois, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Larson Site is a prehistoric archaeological site in Fulton County, Illinois, near the city of Lewistown. The site was the location of a Mississippian town and was occupied during the 13th and 14th centuries. The town was one of seven major town sites in the central Illinois River valley and served as a social and economic center for surrounding villages and farms. The artifacts uncovered at the site have been well-preserved and include both organic remains and intact homes, providing significant archaeological evidence regarding the Mississippian way of life.[2]
Larson Site | |
| |
| Nearest city | Lewistown, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001145[1] |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1978 |
Early history
The Larson Site was a stockaded village with a large flat-topped mound in an open plaza surrounded by homes.[3][4] The Larson site was located at the confluence of the Spoon River and Illinois River.[5]
Spoon River Mississippian consists of three phases:[6]
- Eveland (A.D. 1050–1150)
- Orendorf (A.D. 1150–1250)
- Larson (A.D. 1250–1300)
Archaeology
In 1964 through 1970, archaeologist Alan Harn excavated the Larson Site.[7][8] The village had been attacked and burned circa 1240.[9]
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1978.[1]