Cahokia Woodhenge

Cahokia Woodhenge
Artist's conception of Woodhenge III at sunrise circa 1000 CE
Cahokia Woodhenge is located in Illinois
Cahokia Woodhenge
Location within Illinois today
LocationCollinsville, Illinois, United States
RegionMadison County, Illinois
Coordinates38°39′36.1794″N 90°4′30″W / 38.660049833°N 90.07500°W / 38.660049833; -90.07500
History
CulturesMiddle Mississippian culture
Site notes
ArchaeologistsWarren Wittry, Robert L. Hall, William R. Iseminger
Architecture
Architectural stylestimber circle
Architectural detailsNumber of monuments: 1 Number of temples:

The Cahokia Woodhenge was a series of large timber circles located roughly 850 metres (2,790 ft) to the west of Monks Mound at the Mississippian culture Cahokia archaeological site near Collinsville, Illinois, United States. They are thought to have been constructed between 900 and 1100 CE, with each one being larger and having more posts than its predecessor.[1] The site was discovered as part of salvage archaeology in the early 1960s interstate highway construction boom, and one of the circles was reconstructed in the 1980s.[1] The circle has been used to investigate archaeoastronomy at Cahokia.[2] Annual equinox and solstice sunrise observation events are held at the site.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Visitors Guide to the Woodhenge". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  2. ^ Thomas, Mary (2005). American Woodhenge: Archaeoastronomy at Cahokia (PDF) (Bachelors thesis). Northern Illinois University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  3. ^ "Cahokia Mounds Mark Spring Equinox : The keepers of Cahokia Mounds will host a spring gathering to celebrate the vernal equinox". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Media Network. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-20.