Mitchell Site
Mitchell Archaeological Site · Mitchell Village (Illinois)
Mississippian (c.1050–1250 CE) Early–Middle Mississippian Stirling phase·Mississippian (Cahokia)·🇺🇸 Illinois, St. Clair County, Mitchell, United States
About
About Mitchell Site
The Mitchell Site (11S2) is a Middle Mississippian mound-and-village suburb of Greater Cahokia on the Horseshoe Lake meander opposite Collinsville, Illinois. Peak occupation 1050–1250 CE, it comprises a platform mound (6m high) fronted by a compact plaza and 30+ wall-trench structures with striped pottery, marine-shell gorgets, Cahokia point assemblage, and early maize. Part of the Cahokia 5-km suburban ring mapped by Warren Wittry, Mitchell documents Stirling-phase craft production (shell-tempered pottery, microdrills) and maize intensification at the metropolis's edge. Now partially preserved under Illinois state preserve; the mound core survives though the village apron is plowed.
Why it mattersThe Mitchell Site (11S2) is a Middle Mississippian mound-and-village suburb of Greater Cahokia on the Horseshoe Lake meander opposite Collinsville, Illinois. Peak occupation 1050–1250 CE, it comprises a platform mound (6m high) fronted by a compact plaza and 30+ wall-trench structures with striped p Type-site defining regional sequence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction
- 02Function of elite vs communal architecture
Theories
- 01Regional capital coordinating irrigation and exchange
- 02Ritual-ceremonial amphitheatre aligned to astronomy
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1050–1150 CE
- Period
- Mississippian (c.1050–1250 CE) Early–Middle Mississippian Stirling phase
- Culture
- Mississippian (Cahokia)
- Builders
- Mississippian (Cahokia polity)
- Purpose
- Second-tier Cahokia mound-and-village suburb with Mississippian platform mound, plaza and palisaded hamlets controlling Horseshoe Lake meander
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1050–1150 CE
Initial construction
c.800–900 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
c.1000–1532
Late horizon / Inca incorporation where applicable
On the ground
Structures & features
38.7700° N · 90.0930° W · 126 m · 2 mapped features
- Platform Mound and Plazapyramid6m high platform mound 40×35m with fronting compact plaza 60×50m and palisade remnant38.7702° N · 90.0929° W
- Wattle-and-Daub Village Apron (Stirling Phase)ancient village30-house wall-trench village with marine-shell workshop scatter north of mound38.7697° N · 90.0932° W
Gallery