Cahokia Mounds

As a family we took a trip to Collinsville, Illinois to experience the Cahokia Mounds.  It is the largest prehistoric Indian site north of Mexico.  The site covers 4000 acres and includes at least 120 mounds. 

After 1050 AD, Cahokia became a regional center surrounded by farmsteads, villages and satellite towns with several mounds.  It peaked from 1050-1200 AD, sprawling over six square miles with a population of 10-20,000 people. 

Monks Mound is the largest prehistoric earthen construction in the Americas.  The base covers more than 14 acres, and it rises to a height of 100 feet.  A massive building once stood on the summit where the principal chief would live, construct ceremonies, and govern. 

This is a view of the second stair case to the very top of Monks Mound.  It was quite a climb for us and Hannah counted a total of 153 stairs in all!     

 It was worth the hike to see this amazing view of St. Louis. 

 Looking directly South on Monks Mound you can see one of the two Twin Mounds.

The people of Cahokia built a stockade two miles long around the central ceremonial precinct to defend them against enemies.  The actual stockade logs were covered in a type of plaster.

The Interpretive Center Museum was impressive. 

Our favorite part of the day was hiking around the site under the cool canopy of trees.  We saw several deer, a fawn and even a four point buck just off the side of the trail.     

 
The forests here have thick jungle like vines throughout them.  Caleb decided to try his best Tarzan impersonation by swinging from one of them.  AAAAAHHHAAAAHHHAAA!