The Saline Springs are also an important site of prehistoric remains such as shells, bones, and other organic materials.

[2] An archaeological project led by Southern Illinois University has studied the site since 1981.

This resulted in producing vessels that were as large as four feet across with impressions of the woven baskets on the outer surface of the pots.

The salines, where brine was boiled down into salt, were financially successful, and became the property of the State of Illinois upon its statehood in 1818.

[3][6] The law allowed African slaves to be imported to the site until 1825, when the exemption expired.