Larson Site

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Larson Site
File:Larson Site from the road.jpg
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Nearest cityLewistown, Illinois
Area70 acres (28 ha)
NRHP reference No.78001145[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 1978

The Larson Site is a prehistoric archaeological site in Fulton County, Illinois, near the city of Lewistown. The site was the location of a Mississippian town and was occupied during the 13th and 14th centuries. The town was one of seven major town sites in the central Illinois River valley and served as a social and economic center for surrounding villages and farms. The artifacts uncovered at the site have been well-preserved and include both organic remains and intact homes, providing significant archaeological evidence regarding the Mississippian way of life.[2]

Early history

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The Larson Site was a stockaded village with a large flat-topped mound in an open plaza surrounded by homes.[3][4] The Larson site was located at the confluence of the Spoon River and Illinois River.[5]

Spoon River Mississippian consists of three phases:[6]

  • Eveland (A.D. 1050โ€“1150)
  • Orendorf (A.D. 1150โ€“1250)
  • Larson (A.D. 1250โ€“1300)

Archaeology

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In 1964 through 1970, archaeologist Alan Harn excavated the Larson Site.[7][8] The village had been attacked and burned circa 1240.[9]

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1978.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Maruszak, Kathleen. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Larson Site. National Park Service, 1977-09.
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