Archaeological Investigations at Marlin Miller #2: Weaver in the LaMoine Valley of Hancock County, Illinois

The Marlin Miller site is a multicomponent occupation located within the LaMoine Valley of west central Illinois. The prehistoric cultural remains at the site consisted of a 20 cm thick Late Woodland Weaver midden and 185 Weaver features; one Archaic feature is also present within the investigated area. The Archaic feature consists of a cache of four stone tools associated with the Campbell Hollow horizon (6650–5700 BC). Other Archaic points, such as those belonging to the Springly cluster, suggest a Terminal Archaic (1350–800 BC) presence within the excavated portion of the landform; no cultural features belonging to this time period were recorded however. Marlin Miller appears to have been a favorite and heavily utilized locus during both the newly defined Camp Creek (AD 250–500) and Crooked Creek (AD 500–800) Weaver phases of the LaMoine Valley. The most common points at Marlin Miller associated with the Weaver occupations are those assigned to the Steuben/Mund cluster; the typical Weaver vessel at Marlin Miller is described as a grit-tempered, plain-surfaced jar that exhibits exterior plain dowel tool impressions at the lip with a general absence of nodes. Fabric-impressed and net-impressed ceramics at the site suggest interaction between Marlin Miller and those peoples living in the Mississippi Valley during the Camp Creek phase. Pecan nutshell and wood may also be an import from that valley. This book includes chapters on the midden and features, lithics, ceramics, and botanical and faunal remains at Marlin Miller. Illustrated with more than 45 figures and containing links to 14 online appendices, this report adds to the growing body of data pertaining to the Late Woodland Weaver utilization of the LaMoine Valley of western Illinois.