What is Monks Mound?

Monks Mound is accurately described as a 100-foot high mound located in Collinsville, Illinois. It is the largest prehistoric earthen structure in the Americas and was built by the Indigenous peoples known as the Mississippians around 1000 AD. The mound is part of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, which was a significant urban center for the Mississippians, showcasing their advanced cultural and social organization. The size and scale of Monks Mound suggest that it had considerable ceremonial and possibly political significance, making it an important archaeological site for understanding the history and culture of Native Americans in this region.