Silk evidence at Cahokia: Cocoons and effigies suggest Silk Road connection. Silkworm cocoons and silkworm effigies made of stone with characteristic silkworm spots were found at Cahokia Silkworm evidence was found by Sutter on or near Monks Mound and preserved at Madison County museum French accounts from the late 1600s describe Native Americans making silk at the site
Silkworm cocoons and stone effigies with characteristic silkworm spots were found by Sutter near Monks Mound, preserved at Madison County museum. French accounts from the late 1600s describe Native Americans making silk at the site. Mulberry trees (silkworm food) were prevalent when French explorers arrived. Silk cocoons can survive thousands of years sealed in pottery. 🐛🧵
Key Facts
- Silkworm cocoons and silkworm effigies made of stone with characteristic silkworm spots were found at Cahokia
- Silkworm evidence was found by Sutter on or near Monks Mound and preserved at Madison County museum
- French accounts from the late 1600s describe Native Americans making silk at the site
- Mulberry trees (silkworm food) were prevalent at the site when French explorers arrived in the 1700s
- Chinese traders were present at Cahokia in the early 1400s according to evidence discussed
- Silk cocoons can survive for extended periods if sealed in pottery vessels away from weather
- A comparison example shows silk found in a Norwegian burial mound is nearly 1,400 years old
- The silkworm effigy was originally labeled 'anthropomorphic bug cast' rather than acknowledged as a silkworm
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