Your Modern Archaeologist

The Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) has discovered another world underneath the National Stockyards in East St. Louis, IL. They have uncovered more than 100 Mississippian house structures and thousands of artifacts -- "many on display at the Museum".

The Labor & Industry Museum and ISAS have partnered in developing an exhibit about ISAS (Your Modern Archaeologist) and the world under the Stockyards. In this exhibit you will find yourself learning about archaeological techniques, the Mississippian culture and about the National City Stockyards.

This exhibit will remain on display at the Labor & Industry Museum throughout 2011.

	"Your Modern Archaeologist" Exhibit is in reality an extension of an exhibit currently on display. Sandy Ramage, ISAS employee and Labor & Industry Museum Board Member is pictured with Judy Belleville, Collection Coordinator for the museum. They are standing in front of a giant site map of the National City Stockyards. In its prime, 14,000 people worked at the yards and packing plants.
	Dr. Joseph Galloy, American Bottoms Research Director spoke at the Labor & Industry Museum 11/6/2010. In introducing the exhibit, he spoke on the historic and pre-historic aspects of an archaeological survey currently underway at the St. Louis National tockyards, National City, IL.
	Patrick Durst (l) and Jeff Kruchter (r) are Survey Project Supervisors. Ramage, Durst and Kruchter are part of the 70 member crew team who work at the dig from April to November. The area is being excavated prior to the construction on a new bridge spanning the Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO.
	Methods of excavation are explained in one of the three major sections of the exhibit. Pictured left to right: A "Pikes Peak Flask" 1865-1875; a pre-historic ceramic sherd 1100-1200AD and artifacts taken directly from a cistern dating late 1800s.
	"Life Before the Stockyards" features the Mississippian culture as well as the historic neighborhood around the stockyards. Many photos and artifacts give the viewer a chance to learn about the Mississippians and the pre-historic culture that dates back to 1000AD