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Before we left, a friend told us about some ancient burial grounds in WV we should check out. So, when we drove past these in IL I decided we have to stop! It was a great museum about an ancient Indian civilization that was the largest at the time. The colony expanded and from these mounds the civilization grew. |
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The games at the museum were strangely similar to the games the pioneers and colonist used to play. In the civilization there were three kinds of mounds. Each represented different aspects of life. The platform was the largest and where the chief lived. |
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The Cahokia's were amazing stone masons, making all kinds of arrowheads, spears and axes to help with the land. After we finished in the museum, we went to the top of the mound where the Indian chief used to live. The mound is all that remains, but from the top you can see how he would govern this vast land. |
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Similar to Stonehenge, (or Foamhenge in VA) the Cahokia people had a calendar. However, theirs was made from telephone sized poles of wood. From the top of the mound you could see St Louis in the distance. |
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The chief was also god like and needed to not only oversea the colony, but also keep track of the weather, crops and protect the nation. The ridgeline mounds are still a mystery to archeologists, while the conical mounds were reserved for the burial of high status people. The civilization was also very artsy— tattooing was popular, as well as mask making, pottery making, and toys. |