[Aboriginal Flint Implement Work Shop or Camp Site.]
Located on Section 33, Dry Grove Township, McLean County, Illinois
By Richard Thomas Robinson, Normal, Illinois
May 8, 1912, at this place, my father found the barbed shank of a flint arrow head. Around this broken part of an arrow head were several flint chips. This led to a closer examination, which resulted in the finding of about three dozen pieces a flint core, and several arrow heads, some finished and several about half complete. Many trips have been made to this old camp site in the past two years and all the pieces, or parts of arrow heads as well as chips have been carefully preserved. On none of our trips have we come home empty handed. Even some pottery fragments have been found. These, like all the other material are apparently quite ancient. This camp is near the old Indian trail, which use to run between Bloomington and Peoria, where was then located old Fort Clark.
Mr. George Washington Henry the oldest resident of the grove remembers when he was a boy of eight, the Indians camping on this trail. He has told us many interesting stories about the Indians, and wild game which roamed the prairies in those days. He has gone on walks with us to the places of interest, and told us what was there eighty years ago.
Among the things that have been found at this camp site are namely: a double beveled arrow head, of which the government reports show only one in 3,000 are found, one curved arrow head, one leaf shaped, one of the same kind incomplete, and many barbed arrow heads of different sizes, of which many are incomplete. Several scrapers, some ceremonial stones, a flint drill, and saw, several small bird points, and one large spear point, incomplete. Two very fine skinning knives, one problematic stone, shaped round like a hammer stone, but flat on two sides.
We have excavated at this place to a depth of about two feet but in our excavations found nothing of any great value. In all we have secured several hundred fine specimens.
There are probably a great many more interesting things to be found here and we feel very grateful to Mr. Kaufman for granting us the privilege of searching for the remains of those who lived many years before us.