Trading Post Site

Trading Post Site. . This is the site of Joseph Naper's trading post. , , Archaeological excavation of the cellar of Naper's trading post revealed fragments of ceramics, glass, kitchen goods, clay tobacco pipes, and other personal items that settlers bought from frontier merchants. The cellar also contained glass beads that settlers exchanged with Native Americans. , , Though Joseph Naper arrived in Illinois in 1831 prepared to both build a community and trade with Native Americans, his business may have been short-lived. The Blackhawk War of 1832 was followed by the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, resulting in the forced removal of Native Americans to territories west of the Mississippi River. , , The archaeological team found firearms-related objects at the trading post, including gunflints, a percussion cap, different sizes of lead shot, and a fragment of a gun's side plate. They also uncovered a French military uniform button from the late 18th or early 19th century and a New York State Militia uniform button from the early 19th century. , , During the Blackhawk War of 1832, the first residents of Naper's settlement may have used the trading post as a fortified position while building Fort Payne nearby, and may have re-used old military uniforms while participating in the local volunteer militia led by Captain Naper.