Reimagining the Development of Downtown Cahokia Using Remote Sensing Visualizations from the Western Edge of the Grand Plaza

Remote sensing visualizations from the western edge of Cahokia's Grand Plaza reveal significant insights into the development and transformation of Downtown Cahokia, Eastern North America's first American Indian city. The study identified sequences of monument construction and architectural changes in domestic and special-use structures without excavation, providing a detailed occupational history spanning the 9th to 14th centuries CE. Magnetometer and electromagnetic induction surveys, combined with LiDAR-derived visualizations, offered new information on the nature and sequence of earthwork constructions and plaza delineation, beginning in the early 11th century CE. This multi-scalar approach allowed researchers to trace important changes in Downtown Cahokia's history, contributing to a deeper understanding of its vibrant urban landscape.

Stauffer, J. G., Grooms, S. B., Hu, L. W., Mersmann, J., Kidder, T. R., & Henry, E. R. (2023). Reimagining the Development of Downtown Cahokia Using Remote Sensing Visualizations from the Western Edge of the Grand Plaza. Land, 12(2), 342. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020342