Monk's Mound at Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site

On the road this weekend.

This is the largest ancient earthworks in the New World -- 100 ft tall and over 14 acres at its base. It's estimated to have taken 15,000,000 50-60 lb baskets of earth mounded here one at a time over about 300 years by the ancient Native Americans who built the mound. It's called Monk's Mound, named for the Trappist monks who farmed its first terrace back in the early 19th century after they had come here from France due to the Days of Terror during the French Revolution. The site was, of course, ancient already. At the time of it's height -- around 1150 AD -- this was a huge city of many thousands of ancient Americans. In 1250 AD there were more Native Americans living in Cahokia than there were Englishmen in London. It's a huge site of approximately 6.5 square miles. It's an Illinois State Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amazing place! We had a great tour leader. Please visit if you ever get the opportunity.