D is for Dickson Mounds

People have lived in Illinois for more than 10,000 years. The Hopewell people lived along the Illinois River from 300 B.C. to 500 A.D. They lived in rectangular shaped houses. They built their houses close to each other and near rivers. The Hopewell people hunted animals for meat and ate various plants. They buried their dead in mounds. Along with the bodies, they buried the person's tools, weapons and artifacts. Dickson Mounds National Historic Site and Museum, near Lewistown, is the site of prehistoric villages and burial mounds. The museum was built over one of these mounds to show the skeletons, tools, weapons and artifacts of the Hopewell people in their exact burial positions. Scientist and Archeologist have found more than 10,000 mounds in Illinois.

Another group of people called Mississipians lived in Illinois from 800 A.D. to 1500 A.D. Scientist believe that as many as 100,000 Mississipians lived together in Illinois. They were called Mississipians because they built their cities along riverbanks. The Mississipians also buried their dead in mounds. These mounds can be seen at Cohokia Mounds in southern Illinois.

Learn more about Dickson and Cohokia Mounds by clicking on the links below or by completing our online activities.
 

• Midwest Archeological Center: This site has a map displaying the location of Dickson Mounds and Cohokia Mounds. A brief description of each site is included.
• Dickson Mounds Museum: This site describes the museum and its significance in learning about Native Americans in Illinois.
• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site: This web site describes what Cahokia Mounds was like and explains the significance of archaeology.
• Mississipians of Illinois: This web site was created by Spoon River Valley third graders. They compare the Cohokia and Dickson Mound cultures at this site.