Exploring New Cahokian Neighborhoods: Structure Density Estimates from the Spring Lake Tract, Cahokia

A recent magnetometry survey of the Spring Lake Tract at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, conducted in 2015, reveals significant insights into the site's occupational history. The study identifies a previously unknown borrow pit and demonstrates an increase in building density during the transition between the Terminal Late Woodland and Lohmann phases. Additionally, it shows dense occupation between the Lohmann and Stirling phases, with potential increases in habitation during the Moorehead phase. This challenges previous understandings of domestic space use in Cahokia's late occupational history. The research combines gradiometer data with test excavations and statistical analyses to estimate structure density and area.

Baires, S. E., Baltus, M. R., & Malouchos, E. W. (2017). EXPLORING NEW CAHOKIAN NEIGHBORHOODS: STRUCTURE DENSITY ESTIMATES FROM THE SPRING LAKE TRACT, CAHOKIA. American Antiquity, 82(4), 742–760. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2017.33