Monk's Mound at Cahokia contains Archaic period dog burial, predating Mississippian. Monk's Mound at Cahokia has colored earth veneers (clay) on all surfaces, two feet thick Dog burial on the top terrace was dated to the Archaic period (2500 BC) Paul Patenaude determined the dog matched size of Archaic dogs from his canine studies
Monk's Mound at Cahokia held a major surprise: a dog burial on the top terrace dated to the Archaic period around 2500 BC, predating the Mississippian culture by millennia. Researcher Paul Parlamy confirmed the dog matched sizes of known Archaic dogs. The mound originally stood 125 feet tall with a 22-acre base and colored clay veneers two feet thick. However, managers used backhoes in 2007, removing 30,000 cubic feet of earth despite geologists recommending slope stabilization instead.
Key Facts
- Monk's Mound at Cahokia has colored earth veneers (clay) on all surfaces, two feet thick
- Dog burial on the top terrace was dated to the Archaic period (2500 BC)
- Paul Patenaude determined the dog matched size of Archaic dogs from his canine studies
- The mound was previously believed to be Mississippian period only
- An archaeological surface is as old as the oldest item found on it
- Mound is 105 feet tall (formerly 125 feet) with a base of 22 acres covering 22,365,000 cubic feet
- Site managers used backhoes in 2007 to dig into the mound, hauling away 30,000 cubic feet of earth
- Three geologists had recommended against the digging, suggesting slope stabilization instead
Related site: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: The Roundtable Chronicles - Ep. 21 by Institute for Natural Philosophy