Vacation 2019
Mississippi River - Cahokia site, near Collinsville, Illinois
~~~ Thursday ~~~ 30 May2019 ~~~
A Visit to the Mounds at Cahokia, Illinois made by people of the Mississippian Culture
The Mississippi River, across from St. Louus, Missouri which we had to cross when it was in flood stage late May 2019
After crossing the bridge follow the Interstate towards Chicago
and follow the signs to the Cahokia Mounds.
Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
This is a very credible Museum
Comparisons -
map model of center part of Cahokia complex
Monks Mound - the largest mound in Cahokia - east side
Known as Monks Mound because well over 200 years after the original civilization collapsed,
Christian clergy made a building on top to use as a worship center.
The lower part of the modern staircase leading to the top.
This modern addition was put in place for those who want to climb to the top.
Since the mound is totally earthen constant walking on the dirt would wear it down
unless it was protected. In this case by concrete steps.
It appears from archeological evidance that this approach was the usual ceremonial approach
as it would lead into the ceremonial plaza at the bottom level.
upper staircase
The lower level and the top.
For a visual showing the size of Monks Mound note the people standing at the top of the mound.
Also the bottom South side apron is much smaller than the space at the top of the mound.
St. Louis, MO from top of Monks Mound
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from top of Monks Mound, facing South toward orig. Grand Plaza - and current museum
locating the woodhenge the posts long gone, but the post holes were located by archeologists.
Artists conception of Monks Mound area
Artists conception of the Central Plaza area, South of the Monks Mound
This Birdman Tablet was found in the Monks Mound which is the largest mound in the group.
It dates to 1300 AD. It is sandstone, about 2.5 inches X 4 inches, and
is decorated with the figure of a man wearing a falcon dancer outfit with beaked mask and wing.
The reverse side has a cross-hatched diamond pattern.
The bird-man motif is common symbolism in the Mississippian culture.
The theme was adopted as the Cahokia Mounds logo.
Artifacts - Mississippian culture
Dugout canoe found in 2008 in Arkansas after a flood.
It was carbon 14 dated to have been made between 1310 - 1450 AD,
definetly before European contact, and towards the end of the Mississippian culture.
