Riverton Site, Archaeological site in Crawford County, Illinois.
The Riverton Site is an archaeological location in Crawford County with two distinct areas: a manufacturing zone with tool remains and a residential area with clay house foundations. Evidence of about ten house sites shows that an established community lived here.
Archaeological excavations led by Dr. Frank Winters starting in 1961 uncovered human settlement dating to between 3000 and 1000 BCE. These discoveries made the site important for understanding early North American communities.
Excavations show that residents cultivated plants such as bottle gourd, sunflower, and chenopod, revealing a deep understanding of local plants. These farming methods were advanced for the time and suggest an organized community life.
The location sits near the Wabash River, an area with rich natural resources that supported the historical settlement. Visitors should know that this is an excavated archaeological site and visible features can be subtle.
Scientists found chenopod seeds with hulls one-third thinner than wild varieties, showing that prehistoric farmers deliberately bred plants. This is rare evidence that early farmers in North America practiced intentional plant selection.
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