At the University of Edwards, we’re located ten miles north of the Faculty of Man’s also probably Interpretive Center. Every time I travel across the United States, people recognize this area as a magnificent relic from a prehistoric culture—a culture completely untouched by Europeans. One of the interesting things about this culture, a woodland Mississippian culture known for being sedentary, is that archaeologists believe they didn’t adopt anything from the Mayans or other Mesoamerican cultures.

This culture was very hierarchical, which is distinct from many other Eastern woodlands cultures, which began to change their systems post-1600, particularly after European contact. It’s important to note that we’ve only excavated about 10% of this area, indicating there’s much more to discover.

Today, I’m here to give you a quick overview of this fascinating culture. Please feel free to ask questions. If I can’t answer, I may have some literature that can provide more insights. Cahokia, the site we’re discussing, is located in Collinsville, Illinois, and has become a historical interpretive site attracting numerous visitors each year. You can climb up the mounds, which offer a glimpse into the past, though many questions about Cahokia remain unanswered, such as how it evolved into a significant metropolitan center and the factors behind its decline around 1200 AD. I will also touch on some aspects of climate change that might have influenced this decline.

Recent research by an anthropologist from the University of Illinois suggests that the beginnings of Cahokia were linked to the 1054 AD supernova in the constellation Taurus, which illuminated the sky day and night for 23 days. This event attracted a group of elite individuals, which, due to the hierarchical nature of their society, allowed them to extend their power throughout the region. This led to the development of well-laid-out towns and villages along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

This society was labor-intensive, with a strong political and social structure. They constructed a large city with avenues, houses, multiple dwellings, and mounds. The entire complex today is known as Cahokia Mounds.

Let’s delve into the spiritual and cultural aspects of Cahokia. In 1972, a tablet known as the “bird tablet” was discovered, representing the three spiritual worlds of the native peoples: the upper world symbolized by a falcon, the middle world (earth), and the lower world, represented by a serpent. This balance of the spiritual worlds was central to their belief system.

Cahokia was also a major agricultural hub due to the fertility of the land in the American Bottom, where the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers provided rich soil for corn production. This surplus allowed them to establish extensive trade routes, reaching as far as the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

However, reliance on corn led to dietary deficiencies, which, coupled with environmental changes like cooling around 1200 AD, may have contributed to the society’s decline. The construction of a huge stockade around the city and the deforestation for fuel likely exacerbated these problems, leading to flooding and resource depletion.

The spiritual and military might of the “sun god,” a central figure in their society, eventually waned as internal strife and malnutrition increased. By around 1400 AD, the site was abandoned, and the reasons behind this are still a topic of research and debate.

In conclusion, while we have unearthed many aspects of Cahokia, much remains unknown. This discussion barely scratches the surface of its rich history and significance. Thank you for your attention, and I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.