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A Second-Terrace Perspective on Monks Mound

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

James M. Collins  and
Michael L. Chalfant
James M. Collins
Affiliation:
Office of the State Archaeologist, Eastlawn, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
Michael L. Chalfant
Affiliation:
Soil and Water Conservation Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Box 1322, Marble Hill, MO 63762
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Abstract

Monks Mound is a premier example of monumental architecture occupying the center of Cahokia, the largest prehistoric Indian site north of Mexico. A massive slump on the so-called "second terrace" of the mound prompted geoarchaeological testing resulting in new data concerning the age and function of this enigmatic structure. These data support theory suggesting that construction of monumental architecture is most likely to occur early in the development of complex societies, in this case the Cahokia polity. It is concluded that Monks Mound was a purposeful political tool for the manipulation of mass psychology.

Resumen

Resumen

Monks Mound es un ejemplo superior de la arquitectura monumental situada en el centro de Cahokia, el sitio arqueológico norteamericano más grande fuera de México. Un derrumbamiento macizo de tierra en el llamado "segundo terraplén" instigó las investigaciones geoarqueológicas que produjeron nuevos datos sobre la edad y función de esta estructura enigmática. Estos datos sostienen la teoría que sugiere que la construcción de la arquitectura monumental debe ocurrir temprano en la secuencia de desarrollo de las sociedades complejas, en este caso la entidad político de Cahokia. Se concluye que Monks Mound funcionó como instrumento político intencional para la manipulación psicológica de las masas.

Information

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 1993 , pp. 319 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1993

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References

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