I would like to call your attention to the recent
damage done to one our states historic treasures. In
this case, the damage was done by the same people and
agencies that were responsible for protecting it.

I am referring to the recent misguided attempts to
stabilize Monks Mound at the Cahokia Mounds State
Historic Site. Cahokia Mounds is the center of an
ancient Indian civilization. It contains a series of
earthen mounds, the largest of which is Monks Mound.
There are also hiking trails and a museum with a
visitor’s center. Monks mound is by far the largest
mound of the complex. It was the foundation for the
Chief’s temple.

Historically, Monks Mound has also been subject to
erosion and slumping. During August 2007, an attempt
was made to prevent further erosion and stabilize the
structure. This involved cutting terraces into the
sides of the mound with backhoes (see photo).
Approximately 30,000 cubic feet of mound material was
removed and hauled away in dump trucks.

No attempt was made to properly excavate these
terraces, record what was encountered or to sift the
material that was removed. Broken pottery, cedar
posts, and limestone blocks were encountered. Also
encountered were distinct layers of brightly colored
material. Quite possibly, these were brightly colored
surfaces covering earlier mounds. These layers of
colored soil may have included Native American
symbols. With the destructive excavation methods used,
we will never know.

It should be remembered that Monks Mound is not a
single mound of dirt on which a temple was
constructed. Rather, it is a sequence of temples and
royal burials built one upon the other. The mound is
likely the best preserved record of thousands of years
of Native American civilization.

Hopefully the state can review the manner in which
historic treasures are protected. Hopefully the people
responsible for this destruction can be held
accountable for the damage.

For more information, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahokia