Mound 72 burials: Beaded cloak, possible battle vs sacrifice debate

Mound 72 burials: Beaded cloak, possible battle vs sacrifice debate. Mound 72 contained multiple burials initially assumed to be sacrifices because they were buried together in a pit Burials could alternatively represent deaths from battle rather than ritual sacrifice Some skeletons showed finger bones digging into soil as if buried alive, though this is difficult to prove

Mound 72 contains extraordinary burials: a famous beaded burial featuring two individuals (originally identified as two males, later reconsidered) on shell wampum bead ornaments. Some skeletons show finger bones digging into soil — possibly buried alive, though hard to prove. Was this ritual sacrifice or battle deaths? Grave goods included piles of arrowheads and an intentionally large obsidian leaf blade. 🦅⚔️

Key Facts

• Mound 72 contained multiple burials initially assumed to be sacrifices because they were buried together in a pit
• Burials could alternatively represent deaths from battle rather than ritual sacrifice
• Some skeletons showed finger bones digging into soil as if buried alive, though this is difficult to prove
• The famous beaded burial featured a male and female (originally identified as two males) on a shell wampum bead cloak
• The beaded cloak was shaped like a falcon, with the male facing up and female facing down underneath
• The mound contained elaborate grave goods including piles of arrowheads
• An obsidian leaf blade, intentionally made large, was found in the mound
• Mound 72 is identified as the lunar mound based on its alignment from the Woodhenge
• The Cahokia-style triangular points made at 27.1 degree angles were found in greatest quantity at Mound 72

Related site: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: The Roundtable Chronicles by Institute for Natural Philosophy