Investigators Thomas E. Emerson

Thomas E. Emerson
Director and State Archaeologist, Illinois State Archaeological Survey,
Adjunct Professor, Anthropology, University of Illinois

My research interests are diverse and have ranged from shipwreck to isotopes but throughout my career I have been fascinated by the intersection of science and the social sciences. In the realm of Cahokia my focus has been directed towards understanding the interaction of religion and politics, usually through the analysis of large-scale excavations and contextual archaeology, households, rural settlement, mortuary practices, dietary isotopes and archaeometric sourcing studies. I am currently involved in directing the analysis of our excavations at the East St. Louis site, part of Greater Cahokia. These excavations of over 1200 houses, mounds, plazas, and constructed landscapes are key to understanding the development of urbanism in the North American mid-continent.

2011 Environmental Excellence Award, FHWA
2010 Exemplary Human Environment Initiative Award, FHWA
Career Achievement Award, Illinois Archaeological Survey
2014 Distinguished Career Award, Midwest Archaeological Conference
2014 Charles R. McGimsey III - Hester A. Davis Distinguished Service Award, National Register of Professional Archaeologists
2015 Shanghai Archaeological Forum Field Discovery Award for Rediscovery and Large-Scale Excavation of Cahokia’s East St. Louis Precinct, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing
2016 Cultural Resource Management Research Excellence, Society for American Archaeology