About ISAS

About the Illinois State Archaeological Survey

ISAS Central Offices
ISAS headquarters in Champaign.

The Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) investigates, preserves, and interprets the archaeological heritage of Illinois. ISAS expertise and data assist Illinois communities, businesses, institutions, and people in making informed decisions about management and preservation of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. 

ISAS conducts multi-scaled fieldwork and lab research projects and curates extensive archaeological research collections that include lithic, ceramic, metal, zooarchaeological, and paleoethnobotanical artifacts and ecofacts.

In addition to its headquarters on the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois, ISAS also operates several field stations across the state. 

Dr. Tim Pauketat leads ISAS and is the Illinois State Archaeologist.