The Role of Plants and Animals in the Termination of Three Buildings at the Spring Lake Tract Neighborhood, Cahokia

A recent analysis of ethnobotanical and zoological remains from the Spring Lake Tract neighborhood at Cahokia Mounds reveals that plants and animals played a multifaceted role in the termination of three buildings, challenging traditional distinctions between ritual and domestic practices. The study, conducted by Baires et al. (2022), examined an assemblage of regional biota dating from approximately AD 900 to 1275, highlighting their diverse utility and agency in shaping Cahokian social dynamics. Through the lenses of 'Place-Thought' and locality, the research underscores how these entities contributed to neighborhood creation and sustainability, offering new insights into the complex interplay between humans, plants, and animals in pre-Columbian societies.

Baires, S. E., Baltus, M. R., Parker, K., & Kuehn, S. (2022). The Role of Plants and Animals in the Termination of Three Buildings at the Spring Lake Tract Neighborhood, Cahokia. American Antiquity, 88(1), 20–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2022.73