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Scientists say that humans first came to Illinois about 13,000 years ago. That’s almost too long ago to imagine!
These first people were called the Clovis. Scientists found their spearheads and tools in many places. The Clovis lived in small groups and moved around a lot. They hunted animals and gathered plants for food. Scientists think the Clovis were the ancestors of Indigenous (Native) peoples in Illinois.
◀ The Eastern Woodland peoples came to Illinois from the east. They made their homes along rivers. Around 3,000 years ago, they began building special burial mounds. These were hills made of rocks and dirt to honor their dead. Later, they learned to farm and trade with others. They also developed technology, like bows and arrows. These advances helped them build permanent homes.
The Eastern Woodland peoples learned how to make pottery. They mixed clay and crushed rock to form bowls and jars. After baking these in fire, they could hold water. They could also be used to cook food. Artists carved special designs on the bowls. These designs might have shown which family made them. ▶
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▲ In Cahokia Mounds, the people built Monks Mound. It is the biggest prehistoric dirt structure in all of North and South America. It is much bigger than a football field and 100 feet tall! Inside the mounds, scientists have found many items. These include fancy headdresses, pottery, weapons, and sculptures made of wood, copper, and clay.
◀ The Mississippian peoples played a game called chunkey. One player rolled a stone disc on the ground. Other players guessed where the stone would stop and threw spears there. The player whose spear landed closest to the stone won. The game started in Cahokia Mounds but spread all over. People played it for fun and to solve arguments.
▲ Our state’s name comes from the Illiniwek (or Illini) people. They lived in the Mississippi River valley. The Illiniwek moved with the seasons. In spring and summer, they lived near rivers in big houses called longhouses (above). Several families shared one longhouse. In winter, they lived in smaller homes called wigwams. The women made yarn from bison (buffalo) hair to make clothes like leggings and scarves.
◀ The Illiniwek had a special ceremony called the calumet dance. They used a sacred pipe called a calumet. Red feathers on the pipe meant war. White feathers meant peace. They carried these pipes when they traveled. They used them for solving problems, praying, and healing. Europeans called them peace pipes.
▲ The Illiniwek hunted bison for food. They hunted in groups. They would surround the bison herd. Some hunters would scare the bison with arrows and spears. The scared bison would run toward other hunters to their death. The Illiniwek dried the meat over fire to save it for winter.
Starved Rock is a tall rock in northern Illinois. There is a story about the rock. The story says that different tribes were having a meeting. During the meeting, someone from the Illiniwek killed Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe. This started many fights. In one fight, some Illiniwek climbed to the top of the rock. The Potawatomi tribe, friends of the Ottawa, surrounded the rock. They stayed there for a very long time. The Illiniwek had no food or water. Eventually, they starved. That’s how the place got its name. ▶
REFLECTION
Think about what happened at Starved Rock. What do you think about what the Potawatomi did? What else could they have done instead?
