Naper Homestead

Naper Homestead. . In 2005-06, a team of archeologists, Naper Settlement [unreadable] and a team of volunteers uncovered nearly 25,00 artifacts at the site, providing strong evidence [two or three unreadable words] Joseph Naper and his family [unreadable] built [unreadable] home and trading post [two or three unreadable words]. , , [Three unreadable lines] the 1830s through the mid-20th century. What they left behind are clues revealing how they lived, [unreadable] how they built their houses, [two or three unreadable words] they were, the food they ate, and what they carried in their pockets. , , Joseph Naper of [unreadable] built his settlement at the edge of a vast prairie reaching as far as the eye could see to the south [or mouth?]] of the DuPage River. , , [One or two unreadable words] communities of grasses and wildflowers [unreadable] together, which offer an abundant environment [unreadable] game. Prairies provided this area's first settlers with food, medicine, and feed for cattle, pigs, and horses. When farmers cleared the land, the rich [unreadable] developed from the prairies' centuries of growth provided fertile ground for crops. , , Restoring the native grasses and wildflowers of yesterday's prairies helps today's environment. Tall prairie grasses have deep roots that filter impurities in the water table and retain moisture to sustain other plants during droughts. Native flowers like milkweed, coneflower, and big bluestem provide essential food, nesting material, and cover for the bees, insects, and animals necessary for an effective ecological balance between nature and human communities.