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Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos

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This is a stunning book, in every way: lavishly illustrated and a gorgeous, full-color design. Sally Chappell, who writes for the Travel Section of the New York Times, tells a fascinationg story of a sophisticated ancient culture and empire that thrived along the Mississippi valley between 1100 and 1500, at the same time that the Aztecs were coming into power in Meso-America and the Incas in South America. Cahokia was the major city of this empire, and in 1200 its population exceeded that of London in Europe. Chappell tells the story of this historic site near St. Louis, with its fabulous monumental architecture, relgious traditions, and trading networks. But Chappell takes it well beyond the story of the Native Americans. She explores how the site evolved over time, was influenced by French explorers, was used during the Civil War, and what became of the site in the 20th century. An amazing story of both a place and "place."

North America has at least one ancient pyramid. A dirt one. Situated within a very fertile region known as the American Bottom, the extent of its base overshadows even the Great Pyramid at Giza. And though some today might dismiss it as a weathered lump of soil - the elements have taken their toll - it once towered over North America's greatest medieval city. Known as "Monk's Mound," because a group of early 19th century monks set up shop there, the structure rises some 100 feet over the southwestern Illinois wetlands. Photographs can't capture its ominous girth. Nor can they convey the anti-gravitational energy required to ascend to the summit from which the St. Louis Arch is visible. The panoramic view from on top, a modern rural landscape punctuated with human-made dollops, belies a metropolis that once rivaled London and Rome in population. Between 900 and 1550, an estimated 100,000 - 150,000 people lived in this city now known as "Cahokia." But sometime in the mid-16th century, just before pointy French hats infiltrated Illinois, it was abandoned. Mystery shrouds Cahokia and its people. They left no known written or verbal records. To add to the mystique, no North American city equalled Cahokia in size until Philadelphia overtook it in the early 19th century. As a shadowy symbol of its former strength, North America's Great Pyramid still stands, miraculously, where it was built over a thousand years ago.

"Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos" provides a historical survey of the land and the mystery surrounding Monk's Mound from the Big Bang to approximately 2002. Why the author reached back to the nanosecond of creation remains a little obscure, but that tiny section leads to an interesting discussion of the topographical and geological formation of the American bottom. Thanks to many natural forces the ancient Cahokians, or "Mississippians," found rich fertile soil in the center of North America. They settled there sometime before 900 and fed their burgeoning populace from gifts deposited by glaciers millennia before. What happened at Cahokia afterwards remains, as said above, subject to speculation. Regardless, an entire chapter explores what might have happened based on the meager evidence archeologists have uncovered. Evidence exists for a stratfied society with social classes, an elite, and a worker class. Pottery and artifacts found at the site demonstrate sophisticated artistic skill. They played a game called "chunkey." Some evidence exists that Cahokians used mathematics to design their city, set up an astrological calendar, named "woodhenge," and fortify the inner city with a bastion-lined stockade. The book also explores theories for why Cahokia was abandoned. Everything from climate change, resource depletion, wars, and nutritional or sanitational problems receives at least a cursory analysis. In addition, the book cites the uncommon theory that the Cahokians simply "moved on." Maybe no tragedy occurred? Maybe they willingly abandoned their city?

The book's last four chapters discuss the evolution of the land known as Cahokia from the arrival of French explorers to the building of the Cahokia Mounds State Park's impressive six million dollar interpretive center. More than once either environmental or industrialization factors threatened Cahokia's survival. Voluminous sketches and photographs depict the changing landscape, and the names and stories of those who helped preserve the mounds receive adequate coverage. Railroad developers, airports, x-rated drive-in theaters, housing developments. All of these elements encroached on the dormant medieval city. How the mounds survived the political and cultural tensions of the last three centuries stands as a near miracle of vigilance. The book tells the whole story.

Though Cahokia was designated an international UNESCO site in 1982, it remains a relatively obscure North American attraction. Archaeologists seem more interested in the site than historians. And they haven't hesistated to dig. Some amazing things were unearthed at Mound 72, including possible evidence of human sacrifice. The book has the details. Plus, inexplicable stones were detected inside of Monk's Mound while extracting core samples. Theories abound. But even considering those hordes, archaeologists think they have unearthed only one percent of the information that Cahokia holds. Perhaps as more discoveries unfold, Cahokia will finally enter the American historical annals and history books as the first known great North American city. Until then, it remains somewhat of a secret to those not living in the St. Louis area. "Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos" provides an easy to read non-technical introduction to an exceedingly important North American landmark. After finishing it, go climb Monk's Mound for the full effect.