Cahokia Mounds: America's First City

by William Iseminger

About one thousand years ago, a phenomenon occurred in a fertile tract of Mississippi River flood plain known today as the "American Bottom." This phenomenon came to be called Cahokia Mounds, America's first city.
Interpreting the rich heritage of a site like Cahokia Mounds is a balancing act; the interpreter must speak as a scholar to the general public on behalf of an entirely different civilization. Since even those three groups are splintered into myriad dialects of perspective, sometimes it is hard to know what language to use. But William Iseminger's work at the site has given him nearly four decades of practice in Cahokia Conversation 101, and he tells the story of the place and its ancient culture (as well as its place in contemporary culture) with the clarity and confidence of a native speaker.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Native American, Anthropology

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2010

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for book club - we're planning to visit the mounds for our meeting this month.

This was a fairly informative, ambitious book. Personally, I found it rather dry and too heavy on the archaeological points. I wanted to know more why they concluded certain things about the cultures. Some things were thrown in without substantiation or further discussion - like apparently the Cahokia tribe was later than the 1050-1200 AD civilizations? Overall, the things I was interested in felt glossed over, and the methodology of the archaeologists was heavily emphasized (for being a book geared toward the general public).

I can't imagine recommending this book to anyone unless they have a very specific interest in this region or this specific history. The book was decent, but skim-worthy at best if you don't come in with an interest in the topic.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Iseminger has set out on what may be an impossible quest to provide a book about Cahokia that straddles the line between books written for professional archeologists and lay people. The result is a bit dry for this layperson, and I suspect a bit shallow for the professional. That said, the author's enthusiasm comes through and the breadth of his knowledge is impressive. Definitely worth reading for anyone who wants to know more about the largest of the Mississippian cities.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a precise summary of the mounds and features of the site, with limited speculation about Cahokia’s culture and influence. I appreciated the straightforward recounting of the archaeology and the reserved manner of the speculation. Well illustrated with maps and pictures, and also includes a nice chart summarizing the archaeological periods of the region.

[Trey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book provides a detailed and informative account of many of the archeological excavations that have taken place at Cahokia Mounds, it's tone was oftentimes dull and its imagery of the ancient city often wanting of more. The chapters progress in a logical way, the language is simple enough to imagine the world of Cahokia whenever the author does describe what the ancient city was like, however, the author spends most of the time talking in detail about the artifacts, remains, soil types, soil layers, and other things unearthed in excavations on a large number of mounds that are mostly referred to by number, with only one map, located about halfway through the book, labelling the mounds at the site. I found it, at times, very draining to try to imagine the excavations he was describing, even more difficult to keep track of what mounds he was talking about, and I was often lost on where they were.

I'm very glad to have finished this book, and I have learnt a very gratifying and interesting amount of information about this site that is so interesting to the history of humankind, native peoples, and current residents of these lands (myself included in this last category, as well as the first). I bought this book because I live so close to Cahokia Mounds that it intrigues me greatly to know how the original inhabitants of this area lived, and I can put this book down having accomplished something of this goal. I hope to find more compelling literature on Cahokia Mounds and other Mississippian Cultures to complete this picture even further.

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cahokia Mounds: America's First City is a short, but interesting, book about Cahokia. It gives all the background you would need to get you up to speed on the developments at this site. Those developments, namely excavations, have yielded many new finds.

The first part of the book details some of the basic facts about Cahokia. What we know, how it was discovered, etc. The next part gives lots of information about past (including more recent) digs. It i detailed & gived a good amount of information for those who are trying to find references in order to read about the latest discoveries.

I wish the book got into more of the finds. Some of the figurines are interesting. But this book's focus is more about the layers and the possible meaning of them that the artifacts themselves at times.

Overall, I would recommend this book for anybody trying to get their 'feet wet' on Cahokia.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cahokia mound complex in western Illinois is perhaps one of the most important archaeological sites in the US and is also one that will take decades to fully understand. William Iseminger's "Cahokia Mounds: America's First City" gives we the reader an overview of what is on this site & why it is so important to attempt to understand. Cahokia itself is a collection of mounds that were a part of one the largest cities ever in North America. What happened to the people who lived there we may never know, nor will we perhaps ever be completely certain as to which group of ancient peoples occupied the site as well. Either way though this book is a good introduction to this area & is definitely a book that for anyone who is looking at learning the basics of Cahokia that the average reader will enjoy.

[Michelle Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though I bought this in the Cahokia gift shop, it was not really written for laypeople. It wasn't too jargon-filled, but it was incredibly dull in terms of comprehensive detail. I read the first 60 pages or so, and I couldn't tell you anything more about Cahokia than I knew before. Except that the biggest mound sometimes slumps, or it probably did they think, based on exhaustive descriptions of soil characteristics.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been reading the “People of Cahokia” series by the Gears, a well known archeologist couple who write historical fiction, so I was looking for more information. This book is mostly information about the dimensions of each of the 90+ mounds, so not exactly riveting reading. I’m more interested in the culture, but the only things archaeologists have to work with is what’s left of structures and dead bodies, so this is what we know. The rest is speculation.

[Susan Y, · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a book I read some time ago that was set in Cahokia and was reminded that I knew nothing about Cahokia and wanted to know more. This is one of the books I have read in 2021 to answer that question. A very readable account of the life of the ancients who built and abandoned Cahokia.

[Kathleen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far the best compilation of information I’ve read about the Mississippian culture and Cahokia. I utilized and cited a lot of information from this book in my presentation. Looking forward to attending the winter solstice celebration and can’t wait to learn more from Bill.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 60%. Informational but so dry. There were some interesting bright spots but far too much written regarding the mound's "slumping" over time. If I hear "slumping" one more time in my life, it'll be too soon.

[Delbert Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical overview of the Indians at Cahokia in Illinois.

[Ethan Unklesbay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good information, but could have been a pamphlet

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good intro to the Cahokia site, although a complete large map would have been nice. It was fun to find familiar names in the text.

[Holli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic minimal info

I grew up around these mounds. Walked up them, saw Pow-Wow's, and ancient beads/arrow heads in my own yard. I always walked away from the museum and lectures with barely any info at all. This book leaves me the same way. CLEARLY sun worship and human sacrifice (very similar to the Aztecs) was practiced here. The people affiliated with the museum have resurrected the wooden a Stonehenge which was once built upon the grounds. Citizens around the area are quite possibly living on the grounds of ancient burial/sacrifices which you would think would effect the market value of a home. LOL. Amazing to think that something of such historical significance is basically kept under wraps. I don't think "indian" or "american" quite conjures up the right image of these Cahokians. In fact they are called pre-historic.
Now rice is grown on this land that has been parcelled off and sold. It is called Cahokia rice and is delicious. Very nutritious and fresh. I discovered it during the Cornovirus and rice became impossible to find at the grocer.
Amazing to think we can eat rice grown from the same ground.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book due to the curiosity and interest that had developed from my reading about the Adena and Hopewell indian cultures and in visiting the serpent mounds in Ohio. It got sparked at this time because my sister lives in the Cahokia Mounds area and suggested this book. I found it interesting and a worthwhile endeavor. I had no interest in the technical measurements of the mounds and much of the statisical data, but was fascinated by a culture that apparently thrived at this location between 1000 and 1300 AD. It was also fascinating to see how professionals are able to deduce certain attributes of a culture from its remains. The discussions about artifacts, influences from other indian cultures, reasons for its sudden decline were all fascinating. Other issues such as the burial aspects, the social classes, and the interpretation of "Woodhenge" were of great interest. Although archaeology is on the fringes of my compulsions, this book would be of use to a professional, but also was informative and interesting to a layman like me.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cahokia Mounds: America's First City
by William Iseminger
A great and inspiring resource, shows pictures, details and explanations of the finds and ideology of the site and people who lived historically on it.
The detail in the pictures shows the relations of the finds and believed structures with in the site.
P.S. the author is a very kind and generousness man.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book - short, covers a lot of ground, is easily accessible - about a fascinating place right in my own back yard. There's so much we don't yet know...and so much more that is just waiting to be found! Recommended.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read other books that talked about the Cahokia Mounds but visited St. Louis last spring and wished they were open when we were there. I appreciated the factual information but was hoping for more on the culture of those who built and inhabited the mounds.