established in 1720, the village at the present kolmer site was inhabited by a subgroup of the illini known also as the michigamea. here the flickering light of civilization grew for little more than thirty years before it was unexpectedly snuffed out: in 1752, a confederation of the fox, sioux, and cherokees came up against the village suddenly, and although it had been fortified with a stockade, the inhabitants were unable to hold off the invaders. many were savagely killed and numerous others captured, and the survivors fled to kaskaskia. the invaders withdrew, but only after burning the abandoned village; instead of rebuilding their destroyed homes, the michigamea established a new village nearby at a location known to modern archaeologists as the waterman site.