Before Columbus, there once was a large metropolis on the Mississippi larger than most European cities of the time.
Across the Mississippi River from modern day St. Louis, is a large grouping of giant mounds built hundreds of years before Columbus was even born. We don’t know what the inhabitants called their city, but today we know it as Cahokia Mounds. Cahokia was the name given to the area by French missionaries after the local Cahokia tribe in the late 1600s. The French found a land of mounds left by the mysterious mound builders (now known as the Mississippian culture). In 1735, the French built a chapel on the largest mound giving it the name of Monks Mound. It is still a mystery why the people of the Mississippian Culture built platform mounds all over the Midwest or why a large city developed where it did.
Cahokia was a huge city. Population estimates keep being revised. Currently estimates range from 6,000 to 40,000. It is probably closer to the 40,000 people range due to the expansive residential areas that have been found. Even more people would have resided in outlying communities in order to supply food to the city. Even if the population was on the small end, Cahokia was the largest and populous urban area north of Mesoamerica. In 1250, Cahokia had a higher population than London! It is insane that Cahokia isn’t talked about more.
An artist’s rendition of Cahokia. The area within the palisade was the ceremonial center.
Cahokia was first settled around 600 CE. However, the mound building didn’t start until the 9th century with the emergence of the Mississippian Culture. The city was home to 1,000 people already in 1050 even before its true growth started. In the next 50 years, the population would increase to at least 10,000. Around 120 mounds were built at Cahokia (109 have been found) and that doesn’t even count the ones in the outlying areas. Cahokia had a formal urban layout. At the center was a grand plaza surrounded by mounds of various sizes. Each would have been topped by at least one structure. Some of the other mounds were used for burials.
Jana Irving Monks Mound started as a much smaller mound in the 10th century and was expanded on several occasions, possibly as much as 14 times. The base is the about the same size in area as the Great Pyramid in Egypt and its 100 ft (30m) tall.
Jana Irving Monks Mound looks much more impressive from the front. Erosion has taken its toll on all the mounds. This would have been one giant platform mound with at least one building on the top. The lower (front) terrace was a later addition.
Jana Irving On the lower terrace, with a ton more steps to go.
Jana Irving The French monks built their chapel and mission on that side of the mound. Apparently, it turned into a little town covering the terrace.
Jana Irving Top of the mound, with more mounds in the distance. I’m looking upon where the grand plaza would have been.
Jana Irving Zooming in on the Twin Mounds.
Jana Irving You can see a hazy St. Louis from the top.
Jana Irving Back on ground level. The low mound is Mound 49. The pointier one is one of the Twin Mounds.
Jana Irving There is quite a distance between Monks Mound and the Twin Mounds.
Jana Irving There’s the pointy twin.
Jana Irving I think that’s Mound 48, which is a large in area platform mound.
Jana Irving The Twin Mounds together. There may have been a platform connecting the two. The one on the right was flat on the top and may have had a charnel house.
Jana Irving This is either Mound 55 or Mound 56. They are both two level, flat top mounds.
Jana Irving This is only an exploration of the ceremonial center, which was dwarfed in comparison by the rest of the city.
Not only did they build giant mounds, they also leveled the city, which is a feat within itself. The plaza would have been used for religious rituals and gatherings and probably some ball games. Surrounding the religious and high-status central district was a large palisade, separating the divine from the lowly pleabs.
Jana Irving Here’s a little reconstruction of the palisade.
Jana Irving Cahokia had its own woodhenge! This one is reconstructed, of course. At least five different woodhenges were built at this location from 1100-1200. It aligns to the Summer and Winter solstices like a proper henge. The woodhenge was right in the middle of a residential zone as well.
Jana Irving Next to the woodhenge, there were a couple of more mounds.
Cahokia started its decline in the 13th century, with the city being abandoned around 1350. Why? There is no definite answer. It could have been political, economic, invasion, or revolt. Cahokia did rely on outside communities for its food, which was mostly corn based. There may have been supply change issues. It could have very well been the climate. Who knows? All that is left now is a bunch of mounds.
Cahokia is conveniently located right off of I-50. It’s also a drawback because you can see the expressway from the top of Monks Mound. The museum is currently undergoing a much needed renovation, but you can still explore the mound of Cahokia.
Check out my next update where I will be exploring a park with some elephant shaped rocks.
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Check out my other posts on the Ancient World.
