Cahokia and the Mississippi Mound Builders
Cahokia

Cahokia (as depicted in the above picture) was not only the largest of the Mississippian Centers, but the largest urban center in the Americas north of MesoAmerica.  The peak population may have been as high as 43,000.  Cahokia was at the center of the American Bottom Region, which is an area of fertile, Mississippi River Floodplain at the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers.  A chronology of Cahokia that was developed in the 1970s by Fowler and Hall and later refined by Milner, suggests four phases of Cahokia.  There is strong evidence for social stratification at Cahokia, based on studies of mortuary practices indicating elaborate status burials and sacrifices.

Cahokia likely had a political structure known as a chiefdom and may have practiced some elements of the  Southeastern Ceremonial Complex.

The symbolic representations, in the form of stone figurines and pottery are also of great interest to scholars.

Links

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
This is a U.S. Federal Government Site that gives information on the 22 World Heritage Sites, which are designated by the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Parks Service.  This link leads you to a map, which you can click on to get to the heritage sites.  In addition to giving interesting information about how Heritage Sites are chosen, the Cahokia specific area of this site has a nice paragraph summary of the significance of Cahokia.

Cahokia Mounds Historic State Park
This is the official web site of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.  While the first link on this page is relevant to the Federal Government's designation of Cahokia as an historic site, this link is specific to the State of Illinois Historic Park and efforts at Cahokia.  It contains just about everything you need to know to plan a trip to this site (calendar of events, map of the interpretive center).  It also includes information about membership and activities of the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society.

Southern Illinois University Cahokia Mounds Site
This site has sections on a comprehensive bibliography on Cahokia, Information, Discussion Forum, Gallery of images, and Links.  The 3-D image and aerial photos of Monk's mound in the Information section are particularly impressive.  Although there is a long section of links, the lack of annotation and use of similar or identical names for links makes it difficult to use.

Powell Archaeological Research Center
The Powell Archaeological Research Center focuses on preservation of archaeological sites, especially in the American Bottom Region.  It has a nice set of links to other web sites and to articles and other material specific to the American Bottom (including Cahokia).

US News and World Report 1999 Article on Cahokia
The U.S News and World Report cover story from August 1999 gives a nice, enjoyable to read presentation of the history of Cahokia.

Chicago Tribune May 2000 Article on Cahokia
This article presents some information about the history of the mound builders, with specific reference to Cahokia.  General information about multiple mound sites is given, with an emphasis on a brief historical statement with directions to the site and information about visiting the site.  It is as if this article is laying out a map for a road trip from one mound to the other, for those so inclined.

Monk's Mound
This is a specific section on Cahokia within the Archaeological Institute of America's site, focusing on Monk's mound.  In addition to information about research and findings specific to Monk's Mound, this site has a nice geometric picture of the mound.

Cahokia Archeological Society
This is the site of the Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology, which was founded in 1969.  There is a  Cahokia Section to this site, which gives information about where and when the members of this society interested in Cahokia meet.