About Us

The Center for Archaeological Investigations (CAI) is an independent research unit located within the College of Liberal Arts.

Created in 1978 to undertake archaeological investigations previously supported to varying degrees by the Department of Anthropology and the University Museum, the CAI is a primary vehicle for conducting archaeological research at SIUC. We retain close ties to the Department of Anthropology and our projects provide research opportunities and employment for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The CAI is committed to protecting and understanding the cultural patrimony of the Americas and to facilitating national and international archaeological research. To fulfill these goals, we undertake four major activities:

Research, funded by grant and contract agencies, in the American Midwest, Mesoamerica, and Micronesia,
Curation activities, which include the care and use of archaeological collections for research, student training, and public education,
Publication of research results and the Visiting Scholar Conference proceedings, and
The Visiting Scholar Program, which annually supports a postdoctoral fellow to pursue research, teaching, and writing at the CAI.

Address: Center for Archaeological Investigations, Faner 3479 - Mail Code 4527, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901 • Telephone: 618-453-5031 • Fax: 618-453-8467