Building the Great Earthworks of Cahokia

May 12, 1050

Today, the sun burned bright over the grand plaza as we began another long day of carrying heavy dirt up the rising hill. My shoulders ache, but when I stand at the base of the Great Mound and look up toward the sky, I feel proud to be part of something so vast. Hundreds of us walked in long lines, each carrying woven baskets packed tight with rich, dark soil from the nearby riverbanks. We dumped our loads layer by layer, packing the earth down firmly with our feet so that the structure grows strong and steady.

Our city of Cahokia is growing faster than ever before. Traders from distant lands arrived along the Mississippi River this morning, bringing shiny copper, polished sea shells, and colorful flint for making tools. As I worked, I could hear the rhythmic pounding of wooden tools as the cooks prepared cornmeal porridge for the work crews. The smell of roasting meat drifted across the busy plaza, making my stomach rumble long before the sun reached its highest point.

May 14, 1050

Rain poured down endlessly yesterday, so we spent the afternoon inside the large council house repairing our woven carrying baskets. An elder named Oakhaven showed me how to weave sturdy willow branches tightly together so they do not snap under the heavy weight of wet clay. He told stories of how our leaders first planned this grand city, carefully measuring the alignment of the tall wooden posts at Woodhenge to track the seasonal movement of the sun.

By late afternoon, the storm clouds finally parted, revealing a bright rainbow stretched across the valley. We rushed back outside to inspect the giant mound. Thanks to our careful layering of clay and soil, the earth had held fast against the heavy downpour without sliding away. Tomorrow, our leader will hold a ceremony from the raised platform to give thanks for the clearing skies.

May 17, 1050

We reached a major milestone today! The flat top of the main mound is finally wide enough for the builders to start constructing the great wooden hall. Lifting the heavy wooden timbers up the steep side of the mound took every ounce of strength our team had. We used long ropes braided from tough plant fibers and cheered together as each thick log was pulled up into position.

Looking down from the top of the mound, the view took my breath away. Below me stretched row after row of thatched-roof homes, bustling plazas, and green cornfields spreading out toward the shimmering river. From up here, the people working down on the ground look as small as tiny beetles. I placed my hands on the warm earth of the mound, knowing that long after my work is done, future generations will stand right here and remember the incredible effort that built this city.