Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State Opening Reception

A traveling exhibit from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) titled, Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State is coming to Princeton Public Library. The exhibit opens Friday, May 1, and will run through Saturday, May 30. To kick off the exhibit, the library will be hosting a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 on Friday, May 1st, 2026. This will allow the community the first look at the project curated by the university’s Prairie Research Institute, as well as the opportunity to discuss and visit with other attendees.

Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State looks at where and how people have lived in Illinois for the last 12,500 years. It examines the archaeological evidence and what it reveals about how things like climate change and new technology altered the way people lived. The exhibit is the companion to a new book by ISAS titled Archaeology of Illinois: The Deep History of the Prairie State which was published in June.