The Collins Site Vermilion County Illinois

Douglas K. Jackson

Illinois State Archaeological Survey

Collins

COLLINS COMPLEX

The Collins Archaeological Complex (11V15)

1)Large Multi-Component Habitation/Village Area

2)One Platform Mound

3)Six Conical Mounds

4)Main Occupation Dates to ~ AD 1000 – 1100

5)Has Ties to Cahokia and other Midwest Societies

6)Major Excavations by U of I

V394

New Mounds

11V394 Reconstructed Mound

University of Illinois Investigations

• Late 1960s: Reservoir Survey by Denbow and Cleveland

• 1970-72: Douglas Excavations at Collins and Indian Springs Mound

• 1974-75: Riley Reservoir Surveys • 1976-77: Riley Excavations at Collins and

V394 Mound • 2013: U of I Field School Excavations

Early Cahokia Contacts in the Upper Midwest

Influences on the Collins Site

ALBEE

STARVED ROCK COLLARED

VANDALIA COMPLEX

MAPLES MILLS–MOSSVILLE

EFFIGY MOUND

YANKEETOWN

COLLINS

DILLINGER

EARLY CAHOKIA

BLUFF

DES PLAINES COMPLEX

“Mound A”

150 x 250 x 4 Feet

Indian Springs Mound

Indian Springs Mound 11V82

Indian Springs Mound

1) Red cedar crematory

structure built with scaffold containing 5 individuals

2) Crematory structure ignited

3) The structure quickly capped to form final mound dimensions 70 x 90 x 7 feet

4) U of I does not backfill mound after 1971-72 excavations

5) 2013 U of I Field School reopens previous excavations

6) Mound reconstructed after the 2013 Field School

Made at Cahokia

Local Imitations

V394

New Mounds