Archaeological Investigations at the Ernat Site (11LS267), LaSalle County, Illinois

In the spring of 1987, archaeological excavations were conducted at the Ernat Site (11 LS267), a multicomponent occupation located in the Illinois River floodplain immediately east of Starved Rock State Park along State Route 71. Excavations yielded several pit and rock concentration features, including two possible basin structures, and rich lithic, ceramic, faunal and botanical assemblages. Although diagnostic materials indicate Early Archaic through Upper Mississippian occupa-tions at the site, the majority of remains pertain to the Middle and Late Woodland periods. Of these, materials classified as Late Woodland Swanson and Starved Rock Collared predominate. This paper summarizes the results of archaeological investi-gations at this site.