Slice by ever-thinner slice, Heather Tanner dug into a hole looking for evidence that Native Americans lived at that very spot a thousand years earlier.
"Yesterday, we pulled out a deer antler," said Tanner, an archaeologist for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey. "We found quite a few rooms out here today."
Tanner, 24, is one of about 45 people who swarmed a four-acre lot at St. Clair Avenue and North First Street in National City last week. The lot is part of about 70 to 75 acres that archaeologists are checking as part of the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge, which will link Interstate 70 across Illinois and Missouri.
Brad Koldehoff, who oversees archaeological projects for the Illinois Department of Transportation, is excited about what's being dug up. The soil and fill at the top preserves areas that were villages 1,000 years ago, he said.
The information found helps to understand what happened at the Cahokia Mounds, the former ancient Native American village that stood about three miles away in Collinsville.
"This is a major discovery. It has national significance," Koldehoff said.
Patrick Durst, site director for excavations on the Mississippi River Bridge project, said indications are that Native Americans lived in the area between 900 and 1200 AD. It was the same group that built the Cahokia Mounds, he said.
The area around the North First lot is particularly encouraging, Durst said. So far, workers have excavated what's left of hundreds of homes. They also have dug up arrow heads, bits of ornate pottery, rims from jars and other items they can date to determine when people lived there. "It at least lets us know that they're fairly highly skilled," Durst said.
To get to the signs of early life, archaeologists had to remove several feet of rubble and dirt put down in the 19th century to raise the level of the area above flood stage. "In a way, this has acted as a protectant for this site," Durst said.
Meanwhile, work continues on the $667 million Mississippi River Bridge project. Illinois Department of Transportation Engineer Jeff Church said the project is on schedule to finish by January 2014.
The Exchange Avenue Bridge over Interstates 55/70 has been finished. Crews have completed work on the new exit and entrance ramp at Exchange Avenue. The 15th Street Bridge over Interstate 64 is also being rebuilt.
Both bridge projects were needed to allow the construction of ramp connectors for I-70.
Also, crew have started to build the two legs of the 400-foot towers of the suspension bridge itself.
Contracts have been awarded for 18 of the 31 projects for the bridge. Nine are finished.
Contact reporter Jim Merkel at 618-344-0264, ext. 138
