This volume assembles a number of interrelated historical archaeology studies, originally written by Robert Mazrim for several separate research and contract archaeology projects between 1994 and 2000 but not previously published. Each of these reports focuses on early nineteenth-century frontier-context sites and settlements in Illinois. Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 represent reworked or expanded versions of studies conducted as part of an analysis of three early nineteenth-century sites in the greater American Bottom region. Chapter 2 looks at patterns of initial American settlement in central Illinois as reflected in land-office survey maps. Much of this information was gathered during the preparation of historical-context studies for archaeological surveys of major highway corridors in central Illinois. Chapter 6 is an in-depth study of artifact assemblages recovered from frontier sites in and near Illinois.