Did a civilization emerge at Cahokia? Part 3

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April 2008 has been a memorable month for the Chicago Archaeological Society (CAS). Members who attended the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Association for the Advancement of Archaeology (IAAA) at Cahokia as well as other members and guests anticipate an exciting presentation by our speaker for April, Professor James Brown, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University. Dr. Brown will address the question as to whether a civilization emerged at Cahokia and its environs. Defining civilization is not easily stated insofar as there seem to be almost as many criteria as there are textbooks. For example: 1) Civilization is a form of human culture in which many people live in urban centers, have mastered the art of smelting metals, and have developed a method of writing. 2) The first civilizations began in cities, which were larger, more populated and more complex in their political, economic, and social organization. 3) One definition of civilization requires that a civilized people have a sense of history — meaning that the past counts in the present. With regard to the above, Cahokia fails primarily because of a lack of writing system. Nevertheless qualifies for a designation other than that of textbook civilization insofar as textbook criteria fail to fully encompass Cahokia's unique qualifications. By AD 1000 what we know as Cahokia exhibited a number of distinct characteristics: 1) Large Communal Plazas 2) Monumental Public Architecture 3) An Impressive Fortified Palisade 4) Flat Topped Temple Mounds 5) Specific Religious Activities 6) Identifiable Artistic Concepts Are the above adequate achievements to qualify as a civilization? The CAS looks forward to Dr. Brown's answer to the question, Did a Civilization Emerge at Cahokia and Its Environs?

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• Cahokia
• Chicago
• Archaeological
• Society
• mound
• builders
• missippian