Cahokia, located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri, across the Mississippi River in Illinois, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America, representing the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico.
Here are some key historical facts about Cahokia:
Peak Population and Size:
At its peak around 1100 AD, Cahokia was home to an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people, making it larger than contemporary cities in Europe like London and Paris. The city spanned approximately 6 square miles (16 km²) and included about 120 man-made earthen mounds.
Mound Construction:
Cahokia is known for its impressive earthen mounds, with Monks Mound being the largest, covering 15 acres at its base and rising to about 100 feet in height. These mounds served various purposes, including residential, burial, and ceremonial.
Cultural Influence:
Cahokia was the cultural, religious, and economic center of the Mississippian culture, which influenced areas from the Midwest to the Southeast of the United States. It was a hub for trade, with artifacts found from regions as distant as the Great Lakes, the Gulf Coast, and the Rocky Mountains.
Urban Planning:
The city exhibited advanced urban planning with features like a central plaza, a palisade (wooden wall), and a solar calendar known as “Woodhenge,” used for astronomical observations. The layout showed a clear understanding of cardinal directions and possibly had cosmological significance.
Decline and Abandonment:
By 1350 AD, Cahokia was largely abandoned, and the reasons for its decline are still debated. Theories include environmental changes like flooding, drought, or deforestation; social or political upheaval, and possible warfare. Recent research has challenged some of these hypotheses, suggesting that the city’s decline was not due to environmental mismanagement.
Historical Recognition:
Today, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving 72 of the original mounds within its 2,200 acres. This site draws visitors from around the world to learn about this once-thriving Native American metropolis.
Misconceptions:
The name “Cahokia” was given by French explorers in the 17th century after a local tribe, not because the tribe built the mounds. The original inhabitants and the name they gave the city are unknown, but they were part of the Mississippian culture, not necessarily direct ancestors of the Cahokia tribe that Europeans later encountered.
Cahokia stands as a testament to the complexity and sophistication of pre-Columbian societies in North America, challenging common perceptions of Native American cultures at the time of European contact.
