the Illinois State Archaeological Survey
The Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) investigates, preserves, and interprets the archaeological heritage of Illinois. ISAS expertise and data assist Illinois communities, businesses, institutions, and people in making informed decisions about management and preservation of our irreplaceable cultural heritage.
ISAS conducts multi-scaled fieldwork and lab research projects and curates extensive archaeological research collections that include lithic, ceramic, metal, zooarchaeological, and paleoethnobotanical artifacts and ecofacts.
In addition to its headquarters on the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois, ISAS also operates several field stations across the state.
For over half a century, ISAS has conducted archaeological surveys and excavations throughout the state for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The new information gathered as part of this process have made major contributions to our understanding of American archaeology, at both the state and national levels. ISAS personnel disseminate the results of this research through publications as articles and books, conference papers, public lectures, school presentations, videos, and museum and interpretive displays. In addition to the main ISAS Offices at the University of Illinois in Champaign, we have field stations and facilities in Urbana (Central Illinois Field Station), Collinsville (American Bottom Field Station), Jacksonville and Macomb (Western Illinois Field Stations) and Elgin (Northern Illinois Field Station)
For over half a century, ISAS has conducted archaeological surveys and excavations throughout the state for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Each year ISAS’s Transportation Archaeology program performs hundreds of archaeological surveys and dozens of excavations. These activities not only preserve the state’s rich cultural heritage but allow for the efficient planning, construction, and enhancement of the state’s transportation network. The new information gathered as part of this process have made major contributions to our understanding of American archaeology, at both the state and national levels. ISAS personnel disseminate the results of this research through publications as articles and books, conference papers, public lectures, school presentations, videos, and museum and interpretive displays.
