Center For American Archeology

The mission of the Center for American Archeology is to discover and disseminate the unwritten story of earlier Americans’ lifeways, accomplishments, and changing natural environment. This record constitutes a unique and important national resource, a legacy for present and future generations. As part of the Center’s Basic Research Program, the CAA Press contributes to and promotes archeological research through the publication and distribution of research in Midwestern Archeology and related topics carried out by the CAA and other agencies.

With more than 10,000 years of human occupation and thousands of recorded archeological sites in a 4,000 square mile area, the region surrounding the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Illinois River has often been referred to as the "Nile of North America". This predominately rural landscape is home to the Center for American Archeology, located in Kampsville, Illinois. Originally formed in 1953, the CAA's mission is to discover and disseminate the unwritten story of earlier Americans' lifeways, accomplishments, and changing natural environment. Through integrated programs of archeological investigation, educational outreach and cultural stewardship, the CAA strives to accomplish this mission.