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Pisell, James M

Senior Scientific Specialist
District Archaeologist

Address and Contact Information

209 Nuclear Physics Laboratory
M/C 571
23 E. Stadium Dr.
Champaign, IL  61820

Biography

Mr. Pisell has been a professional Archaeologist for over 22 years with a Master of Arts degree in Public History from the University of Illinois Springfield and a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from Illinois State University. He has conducted and led fieldwork and excavations in compliance with state and federal laws, in coordination with the WIFS Coordinator and other necessary parties for over 20 years in Illinois. James has also conducted lithic analysis of hundreds of precontact sites found or revisited that are reported in the Illinois Inventory of Archaeological Sites (IIAS), Archaeological Survey Short Reports (ASSRs), and Archaeological Testing Short Reports (ATSRs) for survey and testing projects.

Education

M.A. Public History (Museum Studies), University of Illinois-Springfield
B.S., Anthropology, Illinois State University

Professional Affiliations

 

Illinois Archaeology Survey

Midwest Archaeological Conference  

Illinois Association of Museums

 

Research Interests

James Pisell’s interests include the study of prehistoric structures, including public & private dwellings, earthworks, and mounds from the Archaic Period to the Historic Native American Period. He is also interested in the study of Archaic & Woodland artifact variation and its causes including: social, environmental, or other cultural stresses through time.

Current Projects

Participating in archaeological surveys and excavations located throughout Western Illinois. These ISAS projects encompass locating, excavating, and documenting precontact and historic sites.

Documenting and preparing objects for proper storage and exhibits at the Heritage Cultural Center/Jacksonville Area Museum of Morgan County in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Conducting comparative research of the Late Woodland and Mississippian cultures found throughout the Lower Illinois River Valley with the adjacent regions.      

Selected Publications

Pisell, James M., and Richard L. Fishel 2020 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11MD1181 (Diersfurfierz Site) for the FAP 315/IL 336 Macomb Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 523. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Goldman, Jennifer L., David J. Nolan, and James M. Pisell 2019 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY396 (Keomah Silt) for the FAP 310/US 67 Delhi Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. xxx. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M.  2019 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY401 (J.B. Site) for the FAP 310/US 67 Delhi Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 514. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M. 2018 A Rare Glimpse of Frontier Era Taverns and Community Development in Early 19th Century West Central Illinois. Illinois Antiquity. Vol. 53:3 (12-13). Public Service Archaeology & Architecture Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on behalf of the Illinois Association For Advancement of Archaeology.   

Fishel, Richard L. (editor), Trudi E. Butler, Madeleine G. Evans, Eve A. Hardgrave, Mary M. King, Michael F. Kolb, Jolene J. Kuehn, James M. Pisell, and Heather M. Tanner   2018 Eileen Cunningham Site: Woodland and Mississippian Habitations in the Lower Illinois Valley of Greene County, Illinois. Technical Report No. 185. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M.  2018 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY395 (Muscatine Silt Site) for the FAP 310/US 67 Delhi Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 510. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M.  2018 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY352 (Breitweiser #1 Site) for the FAP 310/US 67 Delhi Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 506. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Pisell, James M.  2018 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY345 (Gibbons Site) for the FAP 310/US 67 Delhi Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 497. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M.  2018 Archaeological Investigations at 11MD1201 (Quonset Site) for the FAP 315/IL 336 Macomb Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 496. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M., and David J. Nolan  2017 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11MD1168 (Laverdiere Lake site) for the FAP 315/IL 336 Macomb Bypass Project. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 490. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Donahue, Kristen N., William L. Weedman, Robert Mazrim, Jolene J. Kuehn, and James M. Pisell                                2017 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11MG280 (Spring Run I Site) for the US 67 Arenzville Road to IL 100 Interchange Segment. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 489. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M. and David J. Nolan   2016 A Notch Above: Western Illinois Kessell Points. Illinois Antiquity, Vol. 51, No. 3, Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown, Illinois. 

Pisell James M., David J. Nolan, and Robert N. Hickson
2011
  Archaeological Investigations at Site 11BR424 (Double Deer Site), for the Brown County Wetland Mitigation Bank Project, Brown County, Illinois. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 342. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pisell, James M., and David J. Nolan
2011
 Archaeological Investigations at Site 11JY583 (Double T Site), for the FAP 310/US67 Jersey Co. Line to South End of Delhi Bypass, Jersey County, Illinois. Archaeological Testing Short Report No. 358. Illinois State Archaeological Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Fishel, Richard L., and James M. Pisell
2008
 IL 29 Report: Phase I Archaeological Investigations of the Proposed FAP 318 (IL 29) Corridor from Illinois Route 6 (Peoria County) to Interstate 180 (Bureau County). Research Reports No. 120. Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Fishel, Richard L., Rhett B. Felix, and James M. Pisell
2004 
Interim Report of Archaeological Survey along the Proposed IL Route 29 Corridor. Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, and Bureau Counties. Research Reports No. 90. Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Archaeological Survey Short Reports: Authored or co-authored over 200 reports for ITARP/ISAS between 2002–2019.

Selected Papers Presented   

                                                                              

Pisell, James M. and Lauren M. Fitts                                                               

2014 A Comparison of Terminal Late Woodland Bluff Culture Structures. Midwest Archaeological Conference and Illinois Archaeological Survey Annual Meeting, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Fitts, Lauren M., James M. Pisell, & Robert W. Monroe
2012
 Archaic and Late Woodland Perspectives of the Trinity Hill Site (11JY582). Illinois Archaeological Survey Annual Meeting, Urbana, Illinois.

Pisell, James M., Lauren M. Fitts, & Robert W. Monroe
2011 
Investigations at the Trinity Hill Site (11JY582): Late Woodland and Archaic Occupation of the Piasa Creek Valley, Jersey County, Illinois. Midwest Archaeological Conference, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Nycz, Christine, and James M. Pisell
2007
 Examining the Distribution of Early and Middle Archaic Sites at the Interface of the Wisconsinan and Illinoian Glacial Till Plains. Midwest Archaeological Conference. Notre Dame, Indiana.

Additional Resources

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