Carrier Mills Archaeological District, Archaeological site in Saline County, Illinois.
Carrier Mills Archaeological District extends across about 143 acres near the South Fork of Saline River and contains multiple settlement layers from different periods. The area reveals remains of various human activities stacked on top of each other, documenting a long history of occupation.
Archaeological excavations in 1978 and 1979 uncovered numerous artifacts, animal bones, and plant materials dating from 8000 BC to 1400 AD. The findings show that people inhabited this area for more than 9000 years while their way of life changed dramatically.
The settlement patterns show how people transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming communities that grew corn and squash in permanent homes. This shift appears in different soil layers, each telling a story about how inhabitants lived during their time.
The district marker stands on US Route 45, about 160 feet east of East Walnut Street in Carrier Mills, with a marked roadside area. The location is easy to reach from the main road, and visitors can explore the area without special access restrictions.
The area was covered by swamps and shallow cypress lakes until the early 20th century, creating excellent conditions for preserving archaeological materials. This water-filled landscape later disappeared, but left behind an underground record of three distinct settlement periods.
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