Dickson Mounds
Why it's listed
Dickson Mounds is an archaeological site near Lewistown in Fulton County, Illinois. It centers on a prehistoric burial mound and four associated village or camp sites known as Eveland, Pond, Dickson Camp and Myer/Dickson, together covering roughly eighty acres. The mound once stood about ten feet high and now rises about five feet above the surrounding ground, since much of it has been excavated. Over 1,000 burials have been recorded, a number few sites can match, and many others were destroyed earlier in the twentieth century by building projects and relic collectors. The skeletons and artifacts supply evidence about the social, religious and technological life of the people who lived here around A.D. 1000. The village and camp sites reach back several thousand years, from Archaic to Mississippian times. Excavations at the Myer/Dickson site found thirteen structures and about 300 storage or refuse pits. A museum building now covers 234 burials left in place for public viewing.
Significance in brief: Few sites are known to hold as many burials as this one, with over 1,000 recorded. The skeletal remains and artifacts yield information on the social, religious and technological aspects of the culture. The associated village and camp sites span several thousand years of prehistory, from Archaic to Mississippian.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000457, listed May 5, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off CR 4, Lewistown |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 5, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000457 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | Pre-Columbian; specific date ca. A.D. 1000 |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric, Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Partially excavated, with condition marked fair. About one-fourth of the mound remains unexcavated. A new building has been erected over 234 burials left in place for public exhibit. The site is used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 85 |
| Coordinates | 40.34976, -90.10700 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5273799
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.