Cahokia: Mississippian Metropolis

Ancient Americas

31 Jan 202245:15

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe ancient city of Cahokia, located near modern-day St. Louis, was a major cultural and population hub in North America around 1050 CE. Known for its monumental earthen mounds, plazas, and ceremonial practices, Cahokia was the epicenter of the Mississippian cultural explosion. The city's influence stretched far beyond its borders, affecting trade and cultural practices across the region. Despite its grandeur, Cahokia's decline began around 1200 CE, with factors such as resource depletion, climate change, and increasing factionalism contributing to its eventual abandonment by 1350 CE. The descendants of Cahokia's inhabitants likely migrated west and south, carrying with them the cultural legacy of this once-great city.

Takeaways

🏙️ Cahokia was a major ancient city located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri, and was the center of a cultural explosion in Eastern North America.
🌱 The city thrived due to its fertile floodplain lands, ideal for agriculture, and its strategic location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
🏗️ Cahokia's rapid growth around 1050 CE led to the construction of over 120 mounds, plazas, and public spaces, transforming it into a city of 10,000 to 20,000 people.
🌟 The city's most prominent feature is Monk's Mound, the largest pyramid north of Mesoamerica, which would have housed an elite residence or temple.
🔍 Archaeological evidence suggests that Cahokia was a multi-ethnic and multilingual society, with influences from various surrounding cultures.
🎮 Chunky, a game played by the Cahokians, held significant ritual importance and was a beloved spectator sport.
🏠 Cahokians lived in wattle and daub houses with semi-subterranean foundations, and their neighborhoods were centered around plazas and sweat baths.
🍲 Maize was the primary crop cultivated in Cahokia, but the city also had a diverse agricultural complex including squash, sunflower, and other native plants.
🌐 Cahokia's influence extended far beyond its borders, affecting trade and cultural practices across the Mississippian world.
⛓️ Social stratification and potential factionalism increased over time, leading to the construction of palisades and other fortifications around the city.
📉 Cahokia's population began to decline around 1200 CE, and by 1350 the city was largely abandoned, with its cultural practices carried on by later Siouan-speaking tribes.

Q & A

What was significant about Henry Brackenridge's discovery in St. Louis in 1811?
-Henry Brackenridge, a frontier lawyer and future congressman, discovered the remains of the ancient city of Cahokia in St. Louis in 1811. He documented his journey and was astonished by the large mounds and pyramids he found, which resembled the Egyptian pyramids in scale and labor intensity.
What does the term 'American Bottom' refer to?
-The term 'American Bottom' refers to a wide floodplain at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. This area was very fertile and well-suited for agriculture, making it an attractive location for settlements like Cahokia.
How did the introduction of the bow and arrow affect the growth of Cahokia?
-The introduction of the bow and arrow from the west around 700 CE led to an increased reliance on agriculture and the clustering of communities in villages. This change contributed to the steady growth of Cahokia as more people moved in, transforming it from a larger woodland settlement into a major city.
What is the significance of the 'Big Bang' of Cahokia?
-The 'Big Bang' of Cahokia refers to the abrupt transformation of the settlement around 1050 CE. During this period, Cahokia rapidly expanded in size and population, and underwent a complete redesign. The old settlement was raised, and a new planned city emerged, dominated by huge mounds, plazas, and causeways.
What cultural practices attracted people to Cahokia?
-Cahokia was not only a large city but also the center of a cultural explosion that transformed eastern North America. It was a melting pot of people from various ethnicities and cultures, drawing them with its vibrant and appealing culture, innovative agricultural practices, and monumental architecture.
What types of mounds were constructed in Cahokia?
-Cahokia featured three types of mounds: platform mounds, which were flat-topped and likely supported buildings; conical mounds, believed to be burial mounds for local elites; and ridge top mounds, a Cahokia original with pointed roof-shaped tops.
What was the purpose of the Woodhenge at Cahokia?
-The Woodhenge was a series of wooden posts arranged in a circle, constructed to observe astronomical events, particularly the equinoxes and solstices. It was aligned with the center of Monk's Mound, symbolizing powerful connections between the earth and the sky.
What is known about the burial practices at Cahokia, particularly in Mound 72?
-Mound 72 contained over 270 interred bodies, many of which were sacrifices, some possibly buried alive. The most prominent burial was a man covered in over 20,000 shell beads forming a falcon or thunderbird shape, along with copper tablets, mica sheets, chunky stones, and hundreds of arrowheads. The presence of sacrificial victims, especially young women, indicates the extent of the elites' power and the ritual significance of these burials.
How did Cahokia influence the wider Mississippian world?
-Cahokia's influence was profound and far-reaching, affecting areas as far south as Louisiana, as far north as Wisconsin, as far west as Oklahoma, and as far east as Georgia. Its cultural, political, and ceremonial practices, as well as its style of urban planning, spread throughout the Mississippian world, legitimizing a new order and transforming the cultural landscape.
What factors contributed to the decline of Cahokia?
-The decline of Cahokia is still a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. Possible factors include depletion of local resources due to overpopulation, changes in climate and droughts, increasing factionalism and warfare, and potential diseases due to poor sanitation in the dense urban population.
What happened to the people of Cahokia after its decline?
-After Cahokia's decline, its inhabitants likely migrated to the west and south, becoming the ancestors of later Siouan-speaking tribes such as the Osage, Kansa, Ponca, Quapah, and Omaha. They carried with them the cultural hallmarks of Cahokia, but the American Bottom was largely emptied of significant habitation until around 1500.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Discovery of Cahokia - An Ancient City

The paragraph discusses the discovery of Cahokia by Henry Brackenridge, a frontier lawyer and future congressman in 1811. Cahokia, located near present-day St. Louis, was an ancient city with over 120 mounds and housed a population of 10,000 to 20,000 people. Despite its grandeur, Cahokia's existence was ignored by locals and its story is a testament to a cultural explosion that transformed Eastern North America.

05:02

🌾 Agriculture and Growth of Cahokia

This paragraph delves into the agricultural practices of Cahokia, highlighting the importance of maize as a staple crop. The city's strategic location along the Mississippi River and its fertile floodplains contributed to its prosperity. The period around 950 CE saw a sudden shift in Cahokia's growth, possibly due to a charismatic leader, a food surplus, or even a supernova. This led to a rapid expansion, making Cahokia a thriving city within decades.

10:02

🏗️ Cahokia's Architectural Evolution

The paragraph describes the architectural transformation of Cahokia, from a woodland settlement to a planned city with large mounds, plazas, and causeways. The changes were so abrupt they are referred to as the 'Big Bang of Cahokia.' The city's layout, construction techniques, and pottery styles reflect a cultural shift towards a new Mississippian order. Cahokia's influence was felt far and wide, affecting various aspects of life from housing to religion.

15:03

🌐 Cultural Significance of Cahokia

This section emphasizes Cahokia's role as a cultural hub. The city was the center of a new order and its influence extended to various aspects of life, from housing construction to pottery and religious practices. Cahokia's unique cultural elements, such as the game of chunky and the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (SECC), were adopted by outsiders, indicating the city's significant impact on the surrounding regions.

20:03

🏞️ Monk's Mound and Woodhenge of Cahokia

The paragraph focuses on Monk's Mound, the largest pyramid in Cahokia, and its construction over several centuries. The mound's alignment to the city's axis and its terraces, which likely held significant buildings, reflect the city's ritual and political importance. The Woodhenge, constructed to observe astronomical events, is also discussed, illustrating the city's sophisticated understanding of astronomy and its integration into cultural practices.

25:05

🎮 Public Life and Rituals in Cahokia

This section discusses the public rituals, feasts, games, and gatherings that took place in Cahokia's Grand Plaza, a meticulously leveled space with excellent acoustics. The plaza's role in chunky games and its interruption by smaller mounds for buildings and burials are highlighted. The text also mentions other plazas representing cardinal directions and their significance in Mississippian cosmology.

30:06

💀 Mount 72 - Elite Burials and Human Sacrifice

The paragraph details the excavation of Mount 72, a ridge top mound in Cahokia, revealing elite burials and a large number of sacrificial victims. The presence of over 270 bodies, many of which were sacrificed and possibly buried alive, indicates the extent of the elites' power and the ritual significance of such sacrifices. The burials also reflect complex social structures and the city's political and ritual theater.

35:06

🌾 Agriculture and Satellite Communities of Cahokia

This section explores the agricultural practices and satellite communities of Cahokia. Maize was a primary crop, supplemented by other plants and game. The city's large population necessitated the establishment of farms and satellite communities in the hinterland. The average Cahokian lived in wattle and daub houses with thatched roofs, and the city's neighborhoods featured circular sweat baths for ritual cleansing.

40:07

🌐 Influence and Trade of Cahokia

The paragraph discusses the widespread influence and trade networks of Cahokia, reaching as far as Louisiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Exotic materials were imported to Cahokia, and its style of artifacts was exported, indicating a cultural intrusion and the legitimization of Mississippian culture. The Northern Mississippi saw a rapid transformation with clear evidence of Cahokia's contact and influence.

🏛️ Cahokia's Decline and Abandonment

The paragraph examines the decline and eventual abandonment of Cahokia. Factors such as resource depletion, climate change, political instability, warfare, and disease are considered as potential causes. By 1350, Cahokia was a ghost town, and its former inhabitants likely migrated to new areas, taking with them elements of Cahokia's culture and practices.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cahokia

Cahokia was an ancient city located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri. It was the center of a vibrant and influential Mississippian culture that thrived between 1050 and 1350 CE. The city was characterized by its large mounds, plazas, and a population that at its peak reached 10,000 to 20,000 people. Cahokia's significance lies in its role as a cultural and political hub, with its influence stretching far beyond its immediate region.

💡Mississippian culture

The Mississippian culture refers to the complex society and cultural hegemony that emerged in the Mississippi River Valley and its surrounding areas from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE. This culture is characterized by large, planned urban settlements with mounds, plazas, and a centralized political structure. Cahokia is considered the epitome of Mississippian culture, showcasing its architectural, agricultural, and social sophistication.

💡Mounds

Mounds are earthen structures built by ancient cultures for various purposes, including ceremonial, burial, and elite residential uses. In Cahokia, the mounds were a defining feature of the city's landscape, with some, like Monk's Mound, being the largest pyramid north of Mesoamerica. These mounds not only served functional purposes but also symbolized the power and sophistication of the society that built them.

💡Grand Plaza

The Grand Plaza in Cahokia was a large, open space that likely served as the central location for public rituals, feasts, games, and other gatherings. It was meticulously leveled and smoothed to provide a solid footing for large crowds. The acoustics of the plaza were such that a speaker could be heard from the top of Monk's Mound on a quiet day, highlighting the engineering and planning that went into creating this public space.

💡Chunky

Chunky is a traditional game played by the indigenous peoples of the southeastern United States, and it was also a significant part of Cahokia's culture. The game involves rolling a stone, called a chunkey stone, and players attempting to throw a stick to land as close as possible to the stone's final resting point. In Cahokia, chunky was not only a beloved sport but also held important ritual significance, reflecting the city's spiritual and social practices.

💡Woodhenge

A Woodhenge is a circular arrangement of wooden posts, similar to the more famous Stonehenge in England, but constructed with wood instead of stone. In Cahokia, the Woodhenge was used for observing astronomical events such as the equinoxes and solstices. It was constructed to align with specific celestial bodies, indicating the importance of astronomy and ritual in the city's cultural practices.

💡Eastern Agricultural Complex

The Eastern Agricultural Complex refers to the farming practices and cultivated plants of the indigenous peoples in the eastern woodlands of North America. This complex included a variety of crops such as squash, sunflower, and marsh elder, which were important components of the diet and way of life for the inhabitants of Cahokia and other eastern woodland cultures.

💡Wattle and Daub

Wattle and daub is a method of house construction where a lattice of wood and sticks is covered with a mixture of soil, sand, or clay. This technique was commonly used in ancient societies, including Cahokia, where it was employed to construct houses with semi-subterranean foundations and thatched roofs.

💡Social Stratification

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups within a society based on factors such as wealth, power, or status. In Cahokia, social stratification is evident in the differences between the living conditions and burial practices of the elite and common populations, with the elite having access to more elaborate burials and the common people living in wattle and daub houses.

💡Cultural Diffusion

Cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural beliefs, practices, and artifacts from one group to another. In the context of Cahokia, cultural diffusion is seen in the influence the city had on surrounding regions, with its distinctive styles of pottery, games like chunky, and architectural features such as mounds and plazas being adopted by other cultures.

💡Decline of Cahokia

The decline of Cahokia refers to the period towards the end of the city's history when its population began to decrease significantly, leading to its eventual abandonment by 1350 CE. The causes of this decline are still debated among scholars and may include environmental changes, social unrest, warfare, or a combination of these factors.

Highlights

In 1811, Henry Brackenridge documented his astonishment upon discovering the ancient city of Cahokia, which was a major cultural and population center north of Mexico.

Cahokia was a city of over 120 mounds arranged in large plazas, housing a population of 10,000 to 20,000 people with thousands more living in the hinterland.

The rise of Cahokia marks a cultural explosion that transformed eastern North America, with its influence seen as far south as Louisiana and as far north as Wisconsin.

The city of Cahokia was built on an orthogonal design, offset about five degrees from true north, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of urban planning and construction.

Monks Mound, the largest pyramid in North America north of Mesoamerica, was constructed with specific soils and clays used in different layers for structural and aesthetic purposes.

Cahokia's Woodhenge was a series of wooden posts arranged in a circle, constructed to observe astronomical events such as the equinoxes and solstices, highlighting the importance of astronomy in their culture.

The game of chunky, a ritual and spectator sport played by Cahokians, reflects the vibrant cultural life and social interactions within the city.

Cahokia's influence is seen in the adoption of its architectural styles, such as wall trench houses and platform mounds, by later Mississippian cultures.

The decline of Cahokia is as mysterious as its rise, with theories ranging from resource depletion and climate change to warfare and disease contributing to its eventual abandonment.

Despite its decline, Cahokia's cultural legacy lived on in the practices and beliefs of later Suhin-speaking tribes such as the Osage, Kansa, Ponca, Quapah, and Omaha.

The Emerald Site, associated with Cahokia, was an important location for ritual practices related to water and the moon, emphasizing the spiritual significance of these elements in Cahokian culture.

Cahokia's mounds and other structures were built with significant labor and resources, indicating a highly organized and potentially stratified society with a powerful elite class.

Excavations at Cahokia have uncovered a rich cosmology and mythology, including figures such as the Birdman or Thunderbird and the Mississippian culture hero Redhorn.

Cahokia's influence extended to trade, with exotic materials and goods being exchanged across vast distances, reflecting the city's extensive network and cultural impact.

The construction of palisades around Cahokia indicates growing concerns over warfare and security, as well as a potential shift in social dynamics and power structures within the city.

The population of Cahokia was multi-ethnic and multilingual, suggesting a melting pot of people and cultures that contributed to the city's dynamic and innovative character.

Cahokia's agricultural practices, particularly the intensive farming of maize, played a crucial role in supporting its large population and were likely tied to religious beliefs and rituals.

The decline of Cahokia around 1350 marked the end of a significant era in North American prehistory, with its causes and consequences still being studied and debated by historians and archaeologists today.

Transcripts

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Cahokia Mississippian Ancient City Mounds Culture Agriculture Trade Religion History North America