O/T Indian Artifacts Cahokia Mounds, Cahokia Illinois

John B. · Mar 17, 2009

I know this is way off topic but for those of you who are interested in Indaian artifacts, culture, or history this is a very educational place to visit in Cahokia Illinois, just 10 miles East of St. Louis, Mo. I believe it is the largest man made Indian mound. You won't believe it when you see it. Their museum is around 10-12 years old and is something to visit. If you're coming to St. Louis be sure to take in this attraction.
cahokiamounds.org

oleblu · Mar 17, 2009

John, I grew up in St. Jacob and I've never been to the Mounds. Passed it thousands of times, but never stopped. Looks like I need a road trip home.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 17, 2009

I grew up in SE OH and had a neighbor that collected arrowheads. When I was 9 or so he started taking me with him walking cornfields. Carried it with me when I was stationed in MO later and found quite a bit of stuff. In Germany now and there are about 16 mounds within a couple miles of the house and I find quite a bit of pieces but, so far, nothing whole. Wife isn't interested and gets aggravated because I can't walk across a field without turning over rocks.......

Dave

John B. · Mar 17, 2009

The size of the "Monks' Mound" is unbelievable sin't it? Yes you need to see the new museum you won't regret it!

John B. · Mar 17, 2009

Jim is this you?

John

Jim Plunkett · Mar 17, 2009

Its a good place to visit, a year & a half ago did some work there on Monks Mound. On the north side at the west end & on the east side at the north end. The sides were sliding down, BIL did some digging with excavator then we rebuilt the places with more stable dirt lot of fun running up & down the side of that all day in a T 200 bobcat putting dirt back in , only made it to about 50 feet from the top. The rest of the dirt was put in from the top. I did make it all the way over with 5520 JD & power rake a couple times spun out about ten feet from the top, had to hit the power reverser & back down kind of an uneasy feeling. Then seeded with my vicon, They did find a couple little rock structtors that were left in place, they just took pictures of them. We were working for Plocher Construction

msb · Mar 17, 2009

One at Mounds State Park in Anderson,In. too. Its amazing to think they were that sophisticated and knowlwgeable back them as to have figured out to coming of the seasons by the angle of the sun.

noncompos · Mar 17, 2009

The "Indian Mounds" are one of those mystifying things in our history that've been poorly preserved and studied because they simply don't fit in our "professionally accepted" (ethnologists, archeologists, etc) history...the sheer scope, the size and number are simply astounding...
We (Europeans) justified our occupation of this country partly on the basis that it was only occupied at the time by howling savages, and anything that hinted at organized cultures, especially if they seemed to pre-date ours (or, worse) seemed to have a preferable social system, was systematically ignored, ridiculed or destroyed.
It's left us with great gaps in the history of human development, and, with the forcing of square facts into the round holes of our "official history", a tortured view of what came before our society.
Don't misunderstand; the only way someone'll get my present share is to inherit it, or overcome us the way we overcame the "Indians". But in this case, it's a tragedy that so much was lost before enough time had passed to allow study to become acceptable.

rbel · Mar 17, 2009

I guess I find it "wrong" to be digging in someones grave site. Be it Egyptian, Native American, or any other. I intend to be cremated so no one will ever go digging in mine

Unruh · Mar 17, 2009

About twenty miles off of I 90 on your way to the Black Hills of SD, it pays to stop at Freeman to see their Indian Artifact Exhibit of over 400 pieces. The rest of the museum has thousands of articals as well. www.freemanmuseum.org

Nancy Howell · Mar 17, 2009

I viewed the site. The culture appears to have a "Mayan" influence. Perhaps they came from S. America, stayed a while and went back. Regardless, very interesting.

A vast amount of history, artifacts, etc. has been lost because we failed to understand and accept its importance. What a shame.

waltdavies · Mar 17, 2009

I'm just the opposite of you I plan to be buried in a mausoleum between my two Giant Sequoias (that I planted on the upper corner of the property) and when they are gone in 3 or 4000 years I will be there for the people to come and see what it was like now-a-days.
Hey it made King Tut famous didn't it.
Walt

Owen Aaland · Mar 17, 2009

We were last there about 25 years ago. The new museum is certainly a far cry from what was there then.

noncompos · Mar 17, 2009

Rbel raises a serious question, actually a moral and ethical dilemma...
a lot of the people who came before us (as a lot of us do) had strong feelings about an afterlife and about their deceased, as is obvious by the care and resources spent in the burials...
On the other hand, someone once said that if you don't learn from the mistakes (or catastrophes) of the past you're doomed to repeat (or be destoyed) by them...
I don't have an answer, and there probably isn't one that fits both viewpoints; for me, personally, the need (want?) for knowledge of the past is more important, but it's a difficult decision that doesn't always sit well on the conscience...

Anonymous-0 · Mar 17, 2009

I stopped there to look around about 25 years ago. I was stationed at Granite City in the Army before they shut the depot down and sold it off.
It was my last duty station before I retired.
Your right...it is huge.
Was told once it was the yearly gathering place for Native Americans from all over the US. Don't know if that was true...but it's huge.

oleblu · Mar 17, 2009

John, yes, it is me. It's been me all day, unfortunatly.

O/T Indian Artifacts Cahokia Mounds, Cahokia Illinois

John B.

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oleblu

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Anonymous-0

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John B.

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John B.

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Jim Plunkett

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msb

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noncompos

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rbel

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Unruh

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Nancy Howell

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noncompos

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Anonymous-0

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oleblu

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