Dale Simpson and Diggin' Illinois

By Connie Schmidt

Illinois has a rich and varied archaeological record that spans some 13,000 years. 

In September, Dale gave a fascinating hybrid presentation for the River Prairie Group of Sierra Club on early IL archaeology. The first part of the program was in lecture format, and then there was plenty of time and options to interact with hands-on stations that included archaeological materials from the Land of Lincoln. After experiencing “Diggin’ Illinois”, participants felt appreciation for our state’s culture history. This presentation helped celebrate Illinois’ past, present, and the need for the future investment in this area of keeping history alive. In fact, I know one of our board members scheduled a family trip to explore Cahokia Mounds not long after this presentation was shared.

This program was so engaging that your leaders have scheduled another presentation. Watch your calendar for 2026 when we plan to have “Diggin’ Illinois – Part 2” on September 23!

Dale F. Simpson Jr. (Ph.D., RPA) is a Senior Scientific Specialist with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey and an adjunct instructor for the College of DuPage and Elgin Community College. He serves as a Board Member for the Chicago Archaeological Society and the Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology. He is the editor of Illinois Antiquity and author of numerous books and articles regarding Pacific anthropology, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and Illinois archaeology.