Home>USA Cultural Sites>Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville
The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville is the site of an ancient Native American city near Collinsville, Illinois in USA. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville includes numerous man-made earthen mounds that are beautiful to see and take pictures of.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is the largest archaeological site related to the Mississippian culture. It is a designated site for state protection, and a National Historic Landmark, and World Heritage Site. Travelers will get to see huge man-made mounds once they come at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
Cahokia Mounds was selected as a National Historic Landmark on July 19, 1964. Later this site was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1982. The park protects the 2, 200 acres of area and is the focus of ongoing archaeological research. This is one of only 20 World Heritage Sites designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in USA.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville was first settled around 650 CE during the Late Woodland period. From the mound building, several pottery, shell, copper, wood, and stones were discovered. Monk’s Mound is the central focus of this great ceremonial site. The Monk’s Mound is the largest man-made earthen mound in North America.
Woodhenge is a circle of posts used to make astronomical sightings, and stood to the west of the Monk’s Mound. Archaeologists discovered Woodhenge during excavation of the site. With regard to urban landscape, a 19-hectare plaza spreads out to the south of Monk’s Mound. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville was the most important center for the people known today as the Mississippians.