Archaeological field crew at the Zimmerman site, 1947.

The history of the Illinois Indians is a fascinating story. However, the historical record leaves many questions unanswered. Where, for example, were the historically documented Illinois villages actually located? What can the remains of these villages tell us about Illinois ways of life and how they may have changed through time? Also, can excavations at historical villages help us trace the ancestry of the Illinois Indians from the historic era back into ancient times?