Millstone Bluff: An Ancient Native American Village

Millstone Bluff Archaeological Area, located in the Shawnee National Forest near Simpson, Illinois, offers a unique glimpse into prehistoric Native American life. This natural bluff, rising 320 feet above the surrounding valley, was once home to both Woodland and Mississippian cultures.Archaeological studies suggest that Millstone Bluff was established as a village around 1275 C.E. by people from the Kincaid site in the Ohio River Valley. The bluff's flat top, ringed by sandstone escarpments, provided a defensible location for early inhabitants. The Late Woodland people constructed stone forts around 600-900 AD, building stone walls across access points. Later, from 1350-1550 AD, the Mississippian people built homes and a stone box cemetery on the bluff.Visitors can explore the interpretive trail, approximately one mile long, that leads through the ancient village site. While little remains of the settlement beyond depressions in the earth, the trail features interpretive signs that explain the history and significance of the area. Don't miss the petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings etched into the bluff's northeast edge. These carvings depict birds, serpents, human-like figures, and other motifs.Millstone Bluff offers a fascinating look into the lives of prehistoric peoples and is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Southern Illinois.