Mound 72
- Archaeology
- In Collinsville, Illinois
- 7.6 mi from Route 66
Mound 72, a small ridgetop mound, lies within Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, IL, about 5 miles off the old road. It sits about 2,790 feet south of Monks Mound. The mound itself is low, but it holds one of the best-known burials in North American archaeology. For Route 66 travellers visiting Cahokia, it adds a human story to the earthworks.
What is Mound 72?
The spot began as a ring of 48 large wooden posts, the kind archaeologists call a woodhenge. Later the posts came down, and in their place came mortuary houses, platform mounds and mass burials, with the ridgetop mound built last.
Inside was the so-called beaded burial of a high-ranking person, possibly one of Cahokia's rulers. Graves of several hundred other people surrounded it, including retainers and sacrificial victims.
Visiting Mound 72: tips
Plan it as part of a larger visit to Cahokia, whose main grounds are about 0.2 miles away. The Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center is about 0.4 miles off and is the place to learn more before walking out. Mound 34 is about 0.8 miles away, and Horseshoe Lake State Park is about 2.9 miles away. The mound suits children, and a short walk is all it needs. There is little to see above ground beyond the low mound itself, so the story is the real reason to come.
Practical info
- Address
- 7200 Collinsville Rd, Collinsville, IL 62234
- Phone
- +1 618-346-5160
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
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On the map
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