The Modoc Rock Shelter, located near the Missouri border in Southern Illinois, is a cut-out section of cliff overlooking the Mississippi River valley. The cliff was formed by ice age floods that carved through the land thousands of years ago.

Archaeological discoveries by Irwin Peithmann in the 1950s found artifacts in the shelter that proved groups of people had been there as far back as 9,000 years ago. From Peithmann’s discoveries, it has been concluded that Native American hunters used the shelter as a safe area away from the elements. His excavations also have concluded different groups used the site as a long-term base camp around 6,000 years ago, and small hunting parties inhabited the area around 4,000 years ago. Hammer stones, bone awls and projectile points are just a few of the many discoveries found at the site.  

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

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