Center for American Archeology facts for kids

The Center for American Archeology, or CAA, is a special research and education group located in Kampsville, Illinois, USA. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't make money for itself. The CAA is dedicated to exploring the history and culture of ancient Native Americans. They also study, to a smaller extent, the European settlers who came later.

Discovering Ancient America

The Center for American Archeology is located near where the Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet. This area is sometimes called the "Nile of North America" because it's so rich in history. The CAA focuses on cultures from North America that existed before Christopher Columbus arrived.

A Rich History Underfoot

Because people have lived along these rivers for thousands of years, the area is full of amazing discoveries. Archeologists often find many artifacts from the Woodland Period. These include items from the Middle Woodland Hopewell culture and the later Mississippian culture. These cultures built large mounds and had complex societies.

The Koster Site: A Window to the Past

The Center for American Archeology has spent many years digging at a very important place called the Koster Site. This site is in Greene County, Illinois. Researchers have found evidence that people lived here for more than 7,000 years! This goes all the way back to the Early Archaic period, which was from about 8000 BC to 1000 BC. Imagine all the history hidden in one spot!

Visiting the Center

The Center for American Archeology is about a 90-minute drive north of St. Louis. It's also not far from the famous Cahokia Mounds, which are near Collinsville, Illinois. The CAA uses an old building called the Kamp Store as its Visitor’s Center and Museum. This building was an early 1900s general store. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant historical place.