The Visible and Invisible Workings of Cahokia

Cahokia, the largest pre-Columbian urban center north of Mexico, was shaped by intentional engagements with its landscape—wetlands, swamps, and karst features—that were previously overlooked or misunderstood. By integrating indigenous perspectives with archaeological data, this study reveals that Cahokia’s people strategically altered their environment to draw power from specific landscape elements, embedding them within community identity and urban development. Findings at the Emerald Acropolis Shrine and other precincts underscore how locality, water, and underworld connections were central to Cahokian society, challenging traditional archaeological interpretations and highlighting the agency of non-human actors in indigenous conceptualizations.

Alt, S. M. (2025). The Visible and Invisible Workings of Cahokia. Understanding Early Large-Scale Collectives, 44–68. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003528050-3