Ethnic Identity and Interaction in Late Prehistoric Northeastern Illinois

The late prehistoric period in northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, an area home to the Langford, Fisher, and Huber peoples, is one of tremendous transformation involving climatic perturbations, violence, dietary shifts, migrations, and dispersals. These groups, likely representing ethnic coalitions, are distinguishable by their ceramic wares, settlement and mortuary practices, and household and village configurations. Here we review new evidence from extensive excavations, studies of museum collections, and mortuary re-analyses as they relate to the inter¬action of these neighboring populations, the directions of these interactions, and their social and political ramifications.