Millstone Bluff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Millstone Bluff
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Soil depressions indicate the location of houses
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| Location | Illinois Route 147 west of its junction with Illinois Route 145 |
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| Nearest city | Glendale, Illinois |
| Area | 418 acres (169 ha) |
| Built | c. 1492-1540 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000716 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1973 |
Millstone Bluff is a special natural cliff located in Pope County, Illinois. It's near a small town called Glendale. This bluff is very important because of its amazing history. It shows us how ancient people lived long ago. Because of its historical value, Millstone Bluff is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's one of only three such sites in Pope County, along with the Golconda Historic District and part of the Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site.
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Millstone Bluff: A Glimpse into the Past
What is Millstone Bluff?
Millstone Bluff is a large, natural rock formation. It's located in Pope County, Illinois, near a town called Glendale. For many years, people have known this bluff is special. It's one of only three places in Pope County listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The other two are the Golconda Historic District and part of the Kincaid Mounds.
Ancient People Who Lived Here
Long, long ago, Native American people lived on Millstone Bluff. They were part of what archaeologists call the Mississippian culture. These groups lived in the central and southeastern United States. They built large towns and often farmed. The settlement at Millstone Bluff was built between about 1492 and 1540.
The ancient village site is on top of the bluff. Today, you can see shallow dips in the ground. These dips are actually the remains of old houses. The bluff is inside the Shawnee National Forest. The United States Forest Service takes care of the site. They have even created a special trail. This trail helps visitors explore and learn about the bluff's history.
What Did They Leave Behind?
Besides the Mississippian village, Millstone Bluff holds other ancient secrets. There is a prehistoric cemetery there. It's called a "stone box cemetery." This means people were buried in graves lined with stone slabs.
There's also a special place with ancient rock art. This art is called petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are images carved into rock. The bluff also has the remains of a stone fort. This fort was built by people from the Late Woodland period. This period was even older than the Mississippian culture.
Amazing Rock Art: Petroglyphs
The petroglyphs at Millstone Bluff are truly fascinating. They show different symbols and creatures. You can see two images of thunderbirds. Thunderbirds are powerful birds in Native American stories. There are also carvings of pipes and axes. One carving looks like a spider. Other carvings show turkey tracks and a human-like shape.
You can also find a "cross and circle" design. This symbol is common at other rock art sites in southern Illinois. These carvings tell us about the beliefs and daily lives of the ancient people.
Images for kids
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Early American settlers used the bluff as a millstone quarry.
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Petroglyph site on the northeast edge of the bluff
