Cahokia: City of the Sun : Prehistoric Urban Center in the American Bottom

by Claudia G. Mink

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site preserves the remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric Indian civilization north of Mexico, circa A.D. 900-1300. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Cahokia is noted for its important role in the prehistory of North America. This book, written for a general audience, introduces the reader to this ancient metropolis, with its towering 100 foot-high Monks Mound and American Woodhenge sun calendar. This is the astounding story of an advanced Indian culture in North America that thrived and then declined before European contact.

Genres: History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Native American

80 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[David A.]

In the late 1600's, Native American people, called 'Mississippians' by archaeologists, supported a population as large as 20,000 at their zenith, with a wide-scale agricultural economy based on the cultivation of corn.
Located in southwestern Illinois near St. Louis, now called Cahokia.
I have always been interested in these peoples and this amazing site.

[Amber]

Very interesting booklet detailing the (somewhat) known history of the Cahukia Mounds just outside of St. Louis.

[Chris]

Good overview of the site

[Nancy]

An excellent overview and guide to visiting Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site located in Collinsville, Illinois.

[Gayle]

Very informative for its length.

[Sheryl]

An informative momento if you've visited.

[nancy]

It was nice to read this little book after visiting the place in person! I love archaeology so it was very cool to read about these people :)

[Julie H. Ernstein]

Claudia Gellman Mink's Cahokia: City of the Sun provides a nicely-illustrated introduction to a general readership of this remarkable Mississippian site. The booklet, weighing in at a lean 76 pages, could benefit from updating and inclusion of comparative data from adjacent "outlier" sites such as the East St. Louis Mounds and other mound groups studied in recent years as part of large cultural resource management projects. The booklet provides a great introduction, and is to be celebrated for summarizing the archaeology conducted prior to construction of the large interpretive center developed to meet visitation needs for this World Heritage List site.

[Melea]

A brief history of the largest mound site in the US, this book also explains what archaeology tells us about the people who lived in Cahokia, the methods used, and a little about the present day Visitor Center.

[Craig]

Fascinating look at one of the earliest "civilizations" in America, the Cahokia Mounds near modern-day St. Louis. Coupled with a visit to the mounds, this is a great hands-on look at what life may have been like for early (9th-12th century) Native Americans.

[Thom Dunn]

The official guide book of the Cahokia site.

[Andrew]

A very short history of the Mississippian civilization and the Cahokia Mound site.