CAI- Center for Archaeological Investigations

05/20/2026

Proud to see SIU Archaeology Field School students doing meaningful, community-centered archaeology at Lakeview, one of Illinois’ earliest Black communities. This project is a great example of how archaeology can help document, preserve, and share histories that have too often been overlooked.

It is especially exciting to see our students gaining hands-on field experience while working with descendants and local community members to better understand Lakeview’s long history. Great work by Dr. Matthew Greer, the field school students, and everyone involved in this important project.

A Southern Illinois University Carbondale student archaeology team is spending six weeks unearthing research to help tell the story of what is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited Black community in Illinois.

03/11/2026

Illinois Backroads presents The Trail of Tears in southern Illinois

We are excited to share a fantastic new feature from WSIU’s Illinois Backroads that highlights the Trail of Tears in southern Illinois. The video features our recently retired Director, Mark Wagner, alongside Mary McCorvie and Heather Carey from the Illinois Trail of Tears Association and the Shawnee National Forest.

It is a great look at the work being done to preserve the trail and honor its national importance. From mapping the routes to identifying "witness structures" that still stand today, these efforts help keep this vital story at the forefront as a living legacy that remains deeply significant to the modern Cherokee.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/JQs5worvl78

If you’d like to support the CAI's ongoing research and student outreach projects, you can find our giving page here: https://cai.siu.edu/giving.php

To learn more about what we do at the Center, visit us at: https://cai.siu.edu/

We follow in their footsteps to tell the story of the infamous Cherokee forced march known as the Trail of Tears.

03/02/2026

Digging into History: STEM University 2026!

We had an incredible weekend at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for STEM University 2026! The Center for Archaeological Investigations (CAI) was thrilled to partner with the Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA, to help local scouts work toward their Archaeology Merit Badges.

Our team spent the day at the T.W. Thompson House site, right here on the SIU campus. Scouts got hands-on experience with:

* Excavation: Digging in units to uncover hidden history.
* Screening: Carefully sifting through soil to find artifacts.
* Artifact Identification: Analyzing finds like 19th-century ceramics, glass bottles, window glass, and brick.

A huge thank you to Dr. Ryan Campbell, along with CAI Graduate Assistants Brenda Smith and Tanner Farris, for sharing their expertise and mentoring the next generation of archaeologists.

Events like these are vital for campus outreach and preserving our local cultural memory. If you'd like to support future programs and student research, please consider visiting our giving page. Your donations directly fund the tools and opportunities that make these "living history" days possible!

Learn More & Support:
CAI Website: cai.siu.edu
Support Our Outreach: cai.siu.edu/giving.php

09/17/2025

Make an Impact this SIU Day of Giving!

At the Center for Archaeological Investigations (CAI), we’re more than a research center - we’re a training ground for the next generation of archaeologists. With your support, our students and researchers can take on innovative projects that would not otherwise receive funding.

Your gift helps us:
🔹 Support hands-on student research and training opportunities
🔹 Launch new projects that push archaeology in exciting directions
🔹 Share discoveries with the public through outreach, exhibits, and publications

Every contribution, big or small, expands what we can do for both our students and the public. Together, we can uncover the past and inspire the future.

Donate here: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/SouthernIllinoisUniversityFoundation/10th-annual-day-of-giving/pages/CAI

05/31/2025

Please watch and leave comments on the live stream. Thank you to everyone who has attended.

05/29/2025

Join us on Facebook Live Saturday, May 31st from 3-3:45 (Central Time) to wish CAI Director, teacher, mentor, and friend Dr. Mark Wagner a very Happy Retirement.

05/27/2025

CAI Director Mark Wagner a few winters ago leading the way to the Rock Art at Piney Creek Ravine.

11/27/2024

CAI Archaeologists in action! The Center for Archaeological Investigations regularly partners with the Forest Service to help preserve the country's cultural heritage while providing training opportunities for SIU students. Here, our Field Director, Ayla Amadio, leads a crew as they conduct a Phase I archaeological survey on the Hoosier National Forest in Indiana. The work will help the Forest Service manage any archaeological sites that they discover in the area.