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Illinois Pfeffer Site of Cahokia-founders Bulldozed by Developer

Submitted by bat400 on Saturday, 19 July 2008  Page Views: 4521

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An Illinois site known to have contained the remains of a thousand year old village was bulldozed by a developer in late June and early July. Archaeologists and local residents are urging the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) to take Tom Bow to court for exceeding allowed activities at the Pfeffer Site in Lebanon, Illinois. The ancient village of over 100 houses has been part of the Lebanon Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places since the 1970's.

In historic times the Pfeffer site contained no visible structures other than a low mound, but archaeologists had been periodically excavating the site prior to likely development, under the guidance of State Agency and the previous owners. Midden artifacts indicated that the village on this site included groups from what are now Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Archaeologist Jeff Kruchten has written on the societies that seem to have come together to create the Mississippian culture city of Cahokia, and sites like Pfeffer had much to tell about this Pre-"Urban" period in North American prehistory.

But what Pfeffer had to tell is lost now. Developer Tom Bell claims to have followed the IHPA instructions, but staffers and surveying archaeologists say the previously unexcavated areas of the 10 acres site have been destroyed by earth moving equipment that has removed top soils to a depth exceeding the remains of the site.

County and regional newspapers are reporting the story, and reader comments overwhelmingly castigate developer Bow.

The approximate location of the now destroyed Pfeffer site can be found here. Portal members aluta and Condros sent in information on this story.

Note: Take Developer to Court, archaeologists and residents demand.
Contributor Bio for bat400: Located in the Lower Ohio River Valley, United States.

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"Illinois Pfeffer Site of Cahokia-founders Bulldozed by Developer" | Login/Create an Account | 2 News and Comments
  
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Re: Illinois Pfeffer Site of Cahokia-founders Bulldozed by Developer by Aluta on Saturday, 19 July 2008
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The sad truth is that a 300-year-old house gets more 'historical' protection than a pre-Columbian site. Many people don't consider Indian heritage our heritage and they're indifferent to its presence and loss. So many sites have been lost before they were even officially recognised.

When artefacts indicate that a development area may be a site of some kind, many if not most times, the builder's urge is to hurry and destroy it before someone notices and slows down or stops the work. The sites are seen as being valuable to a few people in ivory towers but just a nuisance to the average person. The sense that this is human heritage and therefore everyone's is completely missing. The American history that everyone is always on about does not at all include native American history in public opinion.
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Re: Illinois Pfeffer Site of Cahokia-founders Bulldozed by Developer by Condros on Saturday, 19 July 2008
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Unfortunately this developer has deliberately destroyed other archaeological sites in the past. and like others, must have figured if any fines needed to be paid, it will be passed on to the cost of construction/development of the area.
Another soul-less individual, who I consider to be a thief of this country's history, and far worse than a looter of antiquities, as those items at least have the chance of recovery.
There needs to be a lot more "teeth" in our laws to protect our heritage, or why bother having laws that merely give the violaters a slap on the wrist.

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