Cahokia

Between the 11th and 13th centuries A.D., a thriving Native American culture, known as Mississippian, supported a network of cities along the length of the Mississippi River. Their domain extended west to the foothills of the Rockies and as far east as Florida. The settlement at Cahokia (near present day St. Louis) was perhaps the largest, with as many as 20,000 inhabitants. At the time it would have been larger than the European city of London. Over time the inhabitants constructed massive earthen mounds that still stand today. The largest of these mounds encompasses a greater area than does the Great Pyramid at Giza.

To sustain such a large population, the culture must have been incredibly complex. We know at least that they were extraordinary farmers, growing corn, squash and seed-bearing plants. Many of the other grains that we associated with the Midwest today, like wheat, barley and oats actually arrived in the New World with the Europeans. The Cahokians initially supplemented their diet by hunting, fishing and gathering in the abundant Mississippi valley.

As the settlement grew, the central government needed to become stronger to keep the peace and distribute the abundant harvest. As in other large Native American cultures, archaeologists believe that the leaders was revered as a living god. He took residence at the top of the largest mound, presumably for closer communication with the heavens. Monks' Mounds, so named for the French Trappist Monks who lived nearby in the early 1800s, stands over 100 ft. tall and consumes an estimated 22 million cubic feet of earth.

Other mounds were constructed for various purposes: for lesser government officials, burials, defense and to mark important locations. The mounds come in three forms: rectangular platforms, conical burial mounds, and triangular markers. So many mounds were created within the Cahokia site that the large excavation pits are still also visible today. They have since filled with water and enhance the aesthetic of the park.

In addition to the mounds, archaeologists have discovered the remains of some timber constructions on the site. The residents of Cahokia would have lived in wooden homes with thatch roofs. Additionally, the constructed a large palisade wall around the governmental center of the city. Experts believe that the wall was constructed late in the city's prosperous history, and does not appear to have protected the residential areas of town. This has led some to surmise that the wall was construction to protect against rebellion from within the community.

Further outside the city complex, a circular pattern of timber piles has been reconstructed. The locals have dubbed this structure "wood henge." It seems to serve a similar purpose to the mysterious Stone Henge rock construction in England. Certain perimeter posts align with the rising sun at the Spring and Fall equinoxes and the Winter and Summer solstices.

Mysteriously, the cities disbanded about 100 years before the arrival of Columbus to the New World. What lead to the abandonment of such an advanced urban culture? Depletion of resources, climate change, political upheaval and war have all been suggested as possible reasons for the decline. Sadly, these challenges appear to mirror the problems faced by our modern culture. By delving deeper into the history of the Mississippian people, can we gain a better understanding of our current situation?

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Desert Sustainability?

From the top of Camel Back mountain near Scottsdale, AZ you can view an incredible panoramic of the greater Phoenix area. In the distance, tall mountains hem in the desert valley. The city sprawls out encroaching on these natural barriers.

Closer to the rock outcropping, multi-million dollar estates take their place on manicured golf courses. Some enterprising developers have even created desert oasis’s complete with palm trees and artificial lakes. The metro area thrives and continues to grow despite current economic conditions.

Is there something wrong with this scenario? Is man meant to live in the middle of a desert? Engineering prowess has enabled us to transport water for irrigation and human use long distances from highland reservoirs. Does the fact that we can do these things justify this desert existence?

This week my brother is moving into a new home in Mesa. This community extends further into previously uninhabited areas of the desert valley. Anticipating substantial growth, speculators have invested in thousands of new homes and an extensive infrastructure. Large boulevards now seem unnecessarily large in these days before the residents have arrived. Affordable home prices promise to entice inhabitants to the new community.

The homes are large. My brothers place feels like a Mcmansion in comparison to my modest condo in downtown Chicago. The kitchen and dining room alone equal the size of my entire place. Large windows provide beautiful views of an adjacent golf course and distant mountain ridges. I can only imagine what cooling costs must be for such a home. I also reflect on the fact that temperatures were still reaching 100 degrees in late October.

It does not seem responsible to build communities and homes modeled after those in temperate regions in the middle of the southern desert. People of all communities are entitled to comfortable and affordable housing, but we ought to make adjustments that permit a more harmonious relationship with the local environment.

A small class of artisans has set up such a model community in nearby Scottsdale, called Cosanti. The architecture, by Paolo Soleri, is almost reminiscent of the desert dwellers’ in Star Wars (whose scenes were actually filmed in the deserts of Tunisia). They subsist by selling artistic goods to visitors. To some extent outcasts, there is a religious-like belief in their sustainable way of life.

Similarly, a number of native American tribes live modest lives on several southwest reservations. Despite being situated on poor lands, dictated by unsatable homesteaders, the Indians make do with limited resources. Increasingly, even they try to take advantage of anglo-american largess by opening nearby casinos. Perhaps we could learn much if we spent less time tossing dice and more time learning about their culture.

So this is the paradox of Phoenix: it’s a beautiful desert oasis with all the comforts of home, but at the cost of an entire nation’s freedom and an increasing environmental cost. I cannot help but feel that the city’s growth is unsustainable.