Evaluating narratives of ecocide with the stratigraphic record at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois, USA

A stable ground surface at Cahokia Mounds, preserved from the Mississippian Period (AD 1050–1400) to the mid-1800s, contradicts the wood-overuse hypothesis that blamed deforestation for increased flooding. This challenges long-standing narratives of ecocide, demonstrating that pre-Colombian ecological changes do not necessarily lead to geomorphic alterations. The study employed stratigraphic analysis around an earthen mound in Cahokia Creek's floodplain, revealing no evidence of erosion or instability during Mississippian occupation, thus invalidating the hypothesis linking upland deforestation to downstream flooding.

Rankin, C. G., Barrier, C. R., & Horsley, T. J. (2021). Evaluating narratives of ecocide with the stratigraphic record at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois, USA. Geoarchaeology, 36(3), 369–387. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21848