Monks Mound

E699277

Monks Mound is the largest pre-Columbian earthen structure in North America, built by the Mississippian culture at the ancient city of Cahokia.

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Mississippian culture site
archaeological site
earthen mound
area approximately 14 acres
approximately 5.7 hectares
associatedWith indigenous mound-building traditions
pre-Columbian North America
constructed circa 900–1200 CE
constructedBy Mississippian people NERFINISHED
constructedInPeriod Mississippian period NERFINISHED
culture Mississippian culture NERFINISHED
excavatedBy archaeologists in the 20th century
function ceremonial center
political center
religious center
hasTerraces four main terraces
height approximately 100 feet
approximately 30 meters
heritageDesignation UNESCO World Heritage Site
heritageSiteOf Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site NERFINISHED
length approximately 291 meters
approximately 955 feet
locatedIn Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site NERFINISHED
Collinsville, Illinois NERFINISHED
Illinois
Madison County, Illinois NERFINISHED
North America
United States of America
surface form: United States
material basket-loaded fill
clay
earth
soil
namedAfter French Trappist monks
nameOrigin named for monks who farmed the area in the 19th century
near East St. Louis NERFINISHED
Mississippi River NERFINISHED
partOf Cahokia NERFINISHED
Cahokia Mounds NERFINISHED
Cahokia urban complex NERFINISHED
preservedAs state historic site feature
shape rectangular platform mound
significance largest pre-Columbian earthen structure in North America
largest pyramid north of Mesoamerica
topStructure large wooden building
possible elite residence
possible temple
touristAttraction yes
width approximately 236 meters
approximately 775 feet

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Cahokia Mounds region hasPart Monks Mound