Big Eddy Site

The Big Eddy Site is an archaeological location along the Sac River bank in Missouri where layers of earth contain artifacts and evidence of human settlement. The exposed layers show how different materials accumulated over time, preserving stone tools, hunting weapons, and other objects from multiple periods.

Archaeological work from 1997 to 2005 revealed that people occupied this location continuously for 14,000 years, beginning with early hunter cultures and continuing through later agricultural societies. This extended period of human presence shows how appealing this river valley was to successive groups across millennia.

The site reveals how different groups lived off the river and forest resources over many centuries, adapting their tools and ways to changing conditions. Stone implements and hunting weapons found here show the practical knowledge these people developed to survive in this landscape.

The location sits along a river where water management from a nearby dam affects the site regularly, so plan your visit to observe the exposed layers and landscape. The terrain can be uneven, and you should expect to see ongoing research and protective work being done at the location.

The site features an exposed earth wall rising several meters high that displays clear geological layers comparable to formations found elsewhere in the region. These visible bands of different soils and materials create a natural record that helps explain the long sequence of human occupation at this location.