A bioarchaeological analysis
of human remains from the
Aronin burial site
By Elise Valdés
Department of Anthropology
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Aronin Burial Site

Grundy County, Illinois

Excavated in 1950’s and 1970’s

Skeletal remains recovered

Affiliated with Potawatomi
(O’Gorman and Farnsworth, 1995; Temple, 1958)

One of few Late Historic sites in IL
Potawatomi

The historic Potawatomi
– Displaced by 1800
– Officially removed in 1830’s

Material remains
(O’Gorman and Farnsworth, 1995)
– Characteristic of the fur trade
– More utilitarian than other sites
Goals
1) Reconstruct biological identities of main
individual and commingled individuals
– Age, Sex, Stature
2) Inventory and analyze commingled
remains
3) Identify pathologies on the bones
Methods
Illinois State Museum
 Standard bioarchaeological methods used
to reconstruct:

– Age
– Sex
– Stature
– MNI

Fig 1. Taking measurements of
bone
Published references used to
identify/diagnose pathology
Results
6 individuals represented in commingled
remains
 Single nearly complete individual:
Individual D
 Bones in good condition but fragmentary

Results

Commingled Remains
Individual
Age
Sex
Stature
Individual B
Elements
Mandible with teeth, occipital,
temporal,
8-10 years
u/n
u/n
Individual C
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital,
6-7 years
u/n
u/n
Individual F
Occipital
3-12 years
u/n
u/n
Individual G
Occipital
6 mo. to 1 year
u/n
u/n
Individual H
Humerus, radius, ulna, tibia (R)
adult over 20
F
62.7 in ± 3.3
Individual I
Humerus, radius, ulna (all L)
adult over 20
M?
68.5 in ± 4.1
Results
Individual D
Age
35-45 years
Sex
Male
Stature
Pathology
68.7 in
Periostitis, arthritis, broken ribs,
toe and vertebrae, trauma at
the elbow
Results

Individual D: Evidence of Trauma
Interpretation of Individual B
– Poor health
– Earring at burial?
Interpretation of Individual D

Individual D
– Trauma:
 Mostly right side of body
 Possibly due to a fall
 Not cause of death
Relationship to status of
Potawatomi

Late Historic was a tense time

Individuals had very difficult lives

Numerous young people

Brief glimpse into burial practices
Acknowledgements



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Thanks to the URCA for funding my project
Thanks to the Illinois State Museum for letting me work
with the collection and to Dawn Cobb for her excellent
mentorship
Thanks to Dr. Jen Rehg for her wonderful help and
guidance
Thanks to the Anthropology Dept. for supporting and
encouraging me during the past four years
Thanks to my family and friends for all your support and
encouragement
Without all of you this project would not have been
possible
References
Citizen Potawatomi Nation. (2008). History. Retrieved
march 30, 2010 from
http://www.potawatomi.org/Culture/History/default.aspx
 O’Gorman JA, Farnsworth KB. 1995. Trade and tradition:
European trade goods and Late Historic mortuary sites in
Illinois. Illinois Archaeology 7: 109-147.
 Winger, O. 1939. The Potawatomi Indians. Elgin Press,
Elgin, Illinois
 Temple WC. 1958. Indian villages of the Illinois Country:
Historic tribes. Illinois State Museum, Scientific Papers,
vol. 2, pt. 2. Springfield, IL: Illinois State Museum.
 Wenner D Jr, 1954. Burials at Morris Illinois. Ms on file,
Illinois State Museum, Springfield.
