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The lands and waters of Emiquon bear witness to the passing of more than 600 generations of humanity. Archaeologists at nearby Dickson Mounds Museum, a branch of the Illinois State Museum, consider Emiquon – with more than 149 documented archaeological sites – one of the richest places for discovered Native American sites in the country.
Even today, visitors to Emiquon can find potshards, many of them still brightly colored, dating back more than 2,000 years. The restoration of Emiquon to its natural, historic condition as a floodplain landscape will enable archaeologists and other researchers to enhance their understanding of how Native Americans used the lands and waters here.
At Emiquon, the land has a long memory, and for nearly 80 years, Dickson Mounds Museum, a designated National Historic Site, has been the keeper of that memory. “Dickson Mounds has been here for a long time,” notes Dr. Michael Wiant, director of Dickson Mounds Museum. “And we’re very pleased to have The Nature Conservancy as a neighbor. The museum has long been interested in people on this landscape and how the landscape has changed over time. The Conservancy’s work at Emiquon will give us new opportunities to explore the Illinois River – not only its past, but its future as well.” | 
