Prairie Archaeology & Research, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Partner to Produce “Images of the Past”
The John Chapman archaeological site, situated along the Apple River in northwestern Illinois, is part of a publically accessible prairie preserve and park, now owned by the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF).
This village dates from A.D. 1050–1350 and reflects the circa 1100 A.D. intrusion of Mississippian-culture peoples from Cahokia into the resident Late Woodland population. Since the ninth century A.D. the region had been a hub of Late Woodland ritual activities and numerous effigy mounds still line the banks of the Apple River. The mounds and associated Late Woodland populations may have attracted Cahokians to this part of northwestern Illinois. The presence of exotic trade goods at the John Chapman site, including copper and marine shell, attests to the inhabitants’ participation in a larger trade network. After A.D. 1100, and over the next 250 years, the residents and immigrants merged to create a unique cultural tradition known as the Apple River Mississippian culture. Through time the village grew, and its residents raised a platform mound. Located on the edge of the village plaza, this mound may have supported a temple or charnel (mortuary) structure. This mound is the last remaining platform mound in the region. Evidence of the interaction of these two cultures, and the new cultural traditions that were created as a result of this interaction, is rare in Illinois.
The John Chapman village was contemporaneous with the Mills Village, a Mississippian temple mound town located about two and a half miles downstream. Numerous single-family farmsteads were scattered along the Apple River between and around these two social and religious centers.
Archaeological investigations undertaken by the University of Illinois in 2003 provided information to better understand the site’s importance. This initiated a multi-year preservation effort by landowners Ken and Judy Williams, the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, The Archaeological Conservancy, the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and numerous dedicated volunteers. As a result, the John Chapman site is now part of the 70-acre Wapello Land and Water Reserve, which includes a restored prairie, walking trails, and interpretive signage. The John Chapman site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
“The John Chapman Archaeological Site is preserved as a result of the tireless efforts and generous actions of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, its members, and supporters. Hopefully, our contribution will—in a small way—contribute to the public’s understanding of this unique and significant cultural resource, but also encourage the awareness and protection of similar archaeological sites,” says project participant, Joseph Craig (Prairie Archaeology & Research).
The JDCF—a non-profit located in Jo Daviess County, Illinois—works to protect the natural heritage, spectacular scenery, and agricultural character of Jo Daviess County for future generations. “There are no county park districts or county conservation reserves located here so we, as a non-profit, work to protect critical natural and cultural resources, educate landowners and the general public about conservation issues, host outdoor recreational and educational events, provide leadership in our local community, support economic growth thorough ecotourism initiatives and enrich the lives of locals and tourist alike by providing preserves that allow people to get out in nature and connect with the land,” says project participant Christie Trifone-Simon (Director of Development, JDCF).
The Friends of the Hanover Land & Archeological Reserve, an affiliate of JDCF that helps to steward the Wapello site, began working with Dr. Hal Hassen (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) to develop a series of interpretive stations placed along the walking trail at the John Chapman Site, intended to acquaint the site visitor with the prehistory and significance of the site.
Said Trifone-Simon, “With [this] interpretive signage, more people with walk away from the site realizing how special it is. [Thanks to] investment from many Hanover organizations, businesses, and private donors, the funds for the signage were secured. They believe in this site, the history, the Interpretive text and imagery was created by combining information from the 2003 work at the site with data from similar regional sites and ethnohistoric drawings of protohistoric and historic Native American village life. Prairie Archaeology and Research developed a “birds-eye” view of the Chapman Village and two “point of view” panels. These depict both the appearance of the village during the twelfth century, and the range of activities that may have taken place on a typical summer day. PAR's graphic illustrator, Jason Rein, computer crafted the scenes of village life and then merged them with a combination of recent photographs and satellite images to give the viewer a better sense of what the site once looked like. Says Craig, “Projects like this are a rare opportunity for us to use our creativity to make the archaeological record come to life. It is always a welcome opportunity for us to participate in a project that is a direct benefit to the public and promotes the preservation and value of archaeological sites.”
Prior to this project, the public was largely unaware that a Native American village once occupied this section of restored prairie. Says Hassen, “From my perspective, the goal was to humanize the site for the visitor. Too often non-archaeologists are shown photographs of excavations or artifacts and it is sometimes difficult for the visitor to picture how daily life may have appeared.”
“When archeology and nature work together to preserve important places that define pieces of human existence, we start to realize that everything seems to connect just as these people thought thousands of years ago. Interpreting these amazing sites is the most important factor to their protection. It is because of the work and generous support that IDNR (Hassen) and PAR (Craig and Rein) provided towards this project that will reserve its integrity and its history for the many generations to come,” said Trifone-Simon.
Photo 1 (courtesy of Christie Trifone-Simon–JDCF): Volunteers around the new site sign for the Wapello
Land & Water Reserve, 2011.
Photo 2 (courtesy of Philip Millhouse–ISAS): Wapello ribbon cutting ceremony, 2009.
Photo 3 (courtesy of Christie Trifone-Simon–JDCF): Volunteer, Mary Beyer, works to keep weeds out of the prairie.
Photo 4 (courtesy of Joseph Craig–PAR): Jason Rein (PAR), Hal Hassen (IDNR), and Christie
Trifone-Simon (JDCF) visit the Wapello Preserve.
Photos 5–7 (courtesy of Joseph Craig–PAR): Preview of the images that will appear on trails at the John Chapman site.
For more information about the participating organizations visit:
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. http://www.jdcf.org/
Prairie Archaeology & Research. http://www.prairiearchaeology.com/
Illinois State Archaeological Survey. http://www.isas.illinois.edu/
[posted July 25, 2011]