Cahokia Mounds
Cahokia
United States · Illinois
In brief
Cahokia is one of the largest pre-Columbian settlements north of Mexico. Its mounds, residential areas, and surrounding settlements indicate complex political and economic organization.
What was found?
- 1Monks Mound
A large earthen monument dominating the city center. Its phased construction and terraces show that large-scale building continued over a long period.
- 2Earthen mounds of different shapes
Platform, ridge-top, and conical mounds are present. The mounds served different functions, both as foundations for public buildings and as burial grounds.
- 3Woodhenge post circle
The archaeological traces of a circle of wooden posts. UNESCO describes it as an astronomical observation installation.
- 4Sediment samples from the north plaza
Stable carbon isotopes in core and soil samples provided evidence of wetland plants. These findings called into question the interpretation of the area as a dry gathering plaza.
What does it point to?
Cahokia's mounds and distinct functional areas indicate a complex society that lived by agriculture and could organize large construction projects. According to researchers, the north plaza was wet for much of the year; water is therefore a key element in understanding the city's layout.
What did it teach us?
- Documented the existence of a large, planned, monumental settlement in pre-Columbian North America.
- Showed that earthen mounds were used for different purposes, including public buildings and burials.
- According to researchers, changed the assumption that the north plaza was a permanently dry gathering area.
- Revealed that the city contained an installation of wooden posts for astronomical observation.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
A sediment study published in 2022 showed that the area interpreted as the north plaza was a wetland for much of the year.
Record
- Culture
- Mississippian
- Team / historical
- Illinois State Archaeological Survey; Caitlin Rankin for the North Plaza research
- Coordinates
- 38.6586°, -90.0614°
Sources
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- 12.000
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