The George Morton Site (11P538), which is located within the central business district of downtown Peoria, was discovered during a Phase I archaeological survey conducted in June 2001.  Subsequent Phase II archaeological investigations determined that this site dated from the circa 1840-1860 period, was well preserved with little subsequent late nineteenth or twentieth century intrusions, and was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  In anticipation of the construction of a surface parking lot at this location, a program of scientific data recovery was implemented to mitigate the adverse affects of the construction of the Hamilton-Water Street Parking Lot on the subsurface archaeological resources associated with the George Morton Site (11P538).  The Hamilton-Water Street Parking Lot, which was constructed by the City of Peoria, is located on the northwest corner of Block 1 of the Original Town Plat, Peoria, Illinois.  A series of three small cellars (each representing a distinct domestic and/or commercial “component”) and nine ancillary features (predominately privies) were excavated.  The results of these investigations resulted in new insights into the everyday lifestyles of the early inhabitants of this river community.