Grand Village of the Kickapoo, Archaeological site in McLean County, Illinois, United States.
The Grand Village of the Kickapoo is an archaeological site in Illinois covering 70 acres with remains from an 18th-century settlement. The grounds contain building foundations and numerous objects that reveal how people lived and worked in this community.
The settlement was home to the Kickapoo for generations until 1813, when military forces under Zachary Taylor burned the village. This event ended the community's occupation of the site and led to the departure of its residents.
The site reveals how the Kickapoo built their homes and organized their community spaces, with evidence of farming and domestic life visible throughout the grounds. Visitors can observe the layout of their settlement and sense how daily life unfolded here over generations.
Some areas of the site require special permission to visit in order to protect findings and prevent damage to the grounds. It is important to stay on marked paths and respect boundaries so researchers can continue studying this location.
Excavations revealed a sophisticated defensive system that protected the community and offers clues about military strategies of those who lived here. This discovery shows that the Kickapoo planned their settlement carefully and prepared intentionally against outside threats.
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