First People in a New Landscape
The Archaeology of Ice Age Cook County
Humans first arrived in the Chicago area some 13,000 years ago. The first peoples of Illinois were at the foundation of the complex changes that unfolded among the pre-Columbian societies of this region over the course of the next 13 millennia. The initial peopling of the Great Lakes region took place during a period of rapid climate change which saw the transformation of this region from a glacial landscape to an environment similar to that of today. The archaeological evidence of this time period is scarce and sites are rare. Hence, little is known about the way humans adapted to climate and environmental change at the end of the last ice age. A better understanding of these early hunter-gatherers is critical for telling the full human story of Illinois’ past as well as understanding the range of adaptive strategies that human groups use to respond to climate change. Join us as we explore the Ice Age archaeology, paleontology, and glacial landscapes of Cook County!
OUR PROJECT:
The First Peoples project has several components: Research, Fieldwork, and Outreach. Our goals are to work with the professional community (museums and other researchers) to document new paleontological specimens, revisit known sites, and collect paleoenvironmental data. Ultimately our work will take us into the field to investigate ice-age landscapes and look for new sites while we provide the Forest Preserve with valuable information to manage and preserve these unique resources. We are also engaging with various stakeholders to record old archaeological collections, listen to questions and concerns, and provide students with valuable work experience and to give the interested public the opportunity to participate in the science of archaeology. Interested in participating or have an old collection or interesting fossil to report? Contact Us!
Cook County contains some of the most diverse array of habitats found in Illinois.
Including unique glacial landscapes and fossilized glacial beaches, and provides an excellent laboratory to investigate some of the most basic questions about life during the earliest…
Ice Age Chicago
As the massive ice sheets began to give way, ancient lake levels were rising and falling, and a constellation of ice-age plants and animals unlike any known today were rapidly disappearing. Explore the New landscape as modern day Cook County emerged from the shadow of the glaciers!
First People
Humans first arrived in the Chicago area some 13,000 years ago during a period of rapid climate change which saw the transformation of this region from a glacial landscape to an environment similar to that of today.
From The Field
The undeveloped landscapes protected by the Forest Preserve provide unique opportunities for answering questions about human behavior during the remote past. Join us for tales from the field as we investigate Ice Age Cook County!
The First People in a New Landscape project is made possible by a Partnership between The Illinois State Archaeological Survey and the Forest Preserves of Cook County
