Cosmological Layouts of Secondary Burials as Political Instruments

Secondary burials at Cahokia Mounds exhibit unprecedented scales of artifact amassment, suggesting their use as political instruments to portray cosmological visions. The study focuses on the burial display from Submound 1 of Mound 72, which differs markedly from others and provides insights into archaeological cosmograms. By analyzing these displays, researchers uncover how secondary interments actively reflected cultural connections to the cosmos in pre-contact Americas, offering a novel perspective on Mississippian mortuary practices.

Brown, J. A. (2010). Cosmological Layouts of Secondary Burials as Political Instruments. Mississippian Mortuary Practices, 30–53. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813034263.003.0003