Archeological Adventure with Dr. Michael Wiant - May 30, 2014

OLLI members boared a charter coach with one of OLLI’s favorite instructors, Michael D. Wiant, on an archeological adventure to two historic sites in Illinois: Starved Rock and Sinnissippi Park. During our drive Dr. Wiant discussed the far-reaching story of Starved Rock and the late Ice Age landscape between Peoria and Utica, which was once an equatorial beach shaped by a colossal flood, a home to numerous Native American encampments, and a perch for a French Fort.

Ater arriving at Starved Rock State park, OLLI members stopped at the Visitor's Center to view a film on the history of Starved Rock. The group made their way up the trail to Starved Rock and were rewarded with sweeping views of the Illinois river and the dam at Starved Rock. OLLI members learned about the archeology, geology and history of the site. After exploring Starved Rock, the group headed to Duffy's Tavern for lunch.

After lunch OLLI boarded the bus for a visit to Sinnissippi Park, home to some of the few remaining Native American cemetery mounds in Illinois. They learned how the mounds are a product of the Hopewell tradition which flourished in the Sterling area around 2,000 years ago, when it was the center of a vast trade network that stretched up and down the Mississippi River.

On the ride home, Dr. Wiant made sure OLLI members had been learning all they could during the field trip, as he pitted one side of the bus against the other for an oral examination. The fun "quiz" ended in a tie, of course! OLLI would like to sincerely thank Dr. Michael Wiant for his time and expertise on this wonderful, educational trip.