August 6, 2016

New Findings at Mound 72 at Cahokia

Researchers have analyzed the “beaded burial” at Cahokia and have found that the burial contains both males and females of high status, and not just males. Mound 72 had five mass graves, each containing 20-50 bodies, 270 bodies in all. The burials date to 1000-1200 CE. Twelve of the bodies are associated with a shell design in the shape of a bird. It was assumed that this meant the burials were of male warriors of chiefs. The new research found that the beaded burial area contained 12 bodies and not 6 bodies and that the 2 central bodies are of a male and a female. Other male and female pairs have now been found. The researche is published in American Antiquity. This puts a new light on the role of females at Cahokia.

PhysOrg has the report here;
http://phys.org/news/2016-08-fresh-burials-mass-graves-story.html

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