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
- plaza:
- A large open public area in a town or city where people gather.
- woven:
- Formed by interlacing strands of material together.
- alignment:
- The arrangement of objects in a straight line or correct relative position.
- milestone:
- An important event or stage in the progress or development of something.
- fibers:
- Thread-like structures from plants or materials used to make ropes or cloth.
Educational example text · Diary Entry
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- 1What were the workers using to carry dirt up the rising hill on May 12, 1050?
- 2What items did traders from distant lands bring to Cahokia along the Mississippi River?
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About this diary entry passage for Upper Elementary
“Building the Great Earthworks of Cahokia” is a diary entry reading passage about Cahokia Mounds construction, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (476 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.