The Cahokia Mounds are both a treasure and a mystery. There is much that is unknown about the mounds. What is clear is that there is a history and story contained around these mounds. The Cahokia Mounds are found in Collinsville, Illinois. They are located opposite of St. Louis, Missouri, on the Mississippi River Floodplain.
Archaeologists report that the city of Cahokia was inhabited from about AC 700 to 1400. It was a major center for the Mississippian culture. It covered over six square miles. There were over 120 mounds, 80 of them are still standing today.
Much of what was learned about the city was gathered from the excavated artifacts. These artifacts give clues as to what these ancient people were like.
Archaeologists found games. There were balls, rings, pins, hoops, dice and gambling games. There is something comforting about thought of ancient people enjoying playing games. It brings the connection a little closer to home.
There is plenty of evidence of trading with others. There were marine shells from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean were discovered in the excavating. Copper from Michigan was found. Rock and minerals from the Smokey Mountains were present.
Monk Mound is the largest prehistoric earthen structure in Northern America. It covers an area of over 13 acres and it is 100 feet tall. At one time there was a large building on the mound. The guesses are that it may have been the house of a great chief or perhaps some kind of temple.
In 1966, archaeologists confirmed the existence of a two-mile long stockade which surrounded the central part of the city. Evidence suggests that the walls were started around A.D. 1100 and then rebuilt three times over a period of 200 years. Experts believe that these stockades were a defensive measure to protect the city.
Another interesting aspect of this area are the places referred to as Woodhenge. Woodhenge consists of a circle of posts used for astronomy observations. The locations of the posts marked the solstices and other astronomical events. It is said to be a wooden version of Stonehenge.
There are many answers, but the big question that remains is what happened? There was a city between 20,000 to 40,000 people. What made them leave? Were the hunting grounds no longer fertile? Was there some kind of disease that passed through the area? Were they conquered by some other tribal people? That is a mystery that is yet to be solved.
