The Cunningham Site: An Early Late Woodland Occupation in the American Bottom (Transportation Archaeological Research Reports)

Archaeological investigations were undertaken in 1992-93 at the location of the proposed Glendale Gardens Upland Reservoir in Madison County, Illinois. Subsequent testing and mitigation resulted in the identification of the Cunningham site. Over 100 features were excavated at the site, including two human burials and at least four domestic structures. Recovered artifacts included significant ceramic, lithic, floral, and faunal remains. The Cunningham site is interpreted as a single-component Early Late Woodland occupation dating to c. A.D. 400-500, and is viewed by the report's authors as "a single component horticultural hamlet. The lack of structure rebuilding and the ceramic continuity across the site, combined with the generally similar types of faunal and floral remains from the feature clusters, argue strongly for a short-term, perhaps multi-year occupation of the site" (p. 185).