I was thinking about…The Lost City of Cahokia: A Peek into America’s Ancient Civilization
By Andy Lee
So, I was reading about this ancient city called Cahokia the other day, and I was blown away. I mean, I had never heard of it before, and it’s right here in the United States!
Usually when we think about ancient civilizations, our minds usually drift towards Europe or Asia, right? We envision the Romans with their colosseums, the Greeks with their philosophers, or the Chinese with their great wall. Cahokia was a major city in what is now Illinois, and it was inhabited by the Mississippian people from about 700 to 1400 CE. It was the largest city in North America at the time, with a population of up to 40,000 people. Situated in modern-day, it would be right across the river from St. Louis, Missouri, and was once the most influential urban settlement of the Mississippian culture. And when I say urban, I mean it! This city was massive, at its peak, it covered about six square miles. To give you an idea, London’s population at the same time was about 50,000. That’s impressive, isn’t it?
Cahokia was a city with a lot going on. The place was famous for its man-made earthen mounds, with Monks Mound being the most prominent. This massive structure, covering about 14 acres, is the largest pre-Columbian earthwork in the Americas and was the center of the Cahokia community. It was likely the site of important ceremonies, and the home of the city’s paramount chief.
But Cahokia was more than just mounds. The city was a bustling metropolis. There were marketplaces where goods from all over the continent were traded, residential neighborhoods, public plazas for gatherings, and even a woodhenge – a circular arrangement of wooden posts used as a calendar to track the seasons. The Cahokians were farmers, traders, and artists, crafting beautiful pottery, stone tools, and intricate copper and shell jewelry.
As much as Cahokia sounds like a wonderland of ancient America, it’s shrouded in mystery. Despite its size and influence, Cahokia declined and was abandoned by the time Europeans arrived in North America. The reasons for this are still not completely understood. Scholars think it could have been due to environmental changes, social unrest, or a combination of factors. We may never know the exact reasons, but that just adds to the intrigue of Cahokia, doesn’t it?
The cool thing is, today, the Cahokia Mounds are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and folks like you and me can visit the site to marvel at the achievements of this pre-Columbian civilization. The story of Cahokia is a strong reminder that the history of the United States stretches far beyond the arrival of Columbus, with civilizations that achieved remarkable feats and left us with a legacy that continues to captivate us to this day.
I think it’s amazing that a city like Cahokia could have existed right here in the United States, and yet it was lost to history for so long. It’s a reminder that there’s still so much we don’t know about our past, and it’s a call to keep exploring and learning.
So next time you’re hanging out with friends, swap the tales of Roman emperors or Greek philosophers with stories from our own backyard – of a city that thrived and mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a legacy of achievement and a handful of questions that keep the archaeologists guessing.
Stay curious, keep exploring.
I was thinking about... 