The
presentation explains:
- the richness of the local environment.
- the importance of corn agriculture.
- surplus allows specialization and trade.
- the large trade network of Mississippian communities.
-
In order
to help protect our exhibits, students may not use writing materials in the
Exhibit Gallery.
Devise a
system for them to search, find and remember the information. Tables in the
Cafe may be
used for
writing and, on occasion, adults accompanying the groups may be responsible for
writing down
information
discovered by the children in the gallery, but writing permits must be issued
first.
A.
Birdman Tablet
1. How does the birdman tablet represent the three worlds?
a. Sky world by
b. This world by
c. Underworld by
* On the way home look for the Birdman on the I-255
overpasses
B.
Time Exhibit
1. What was the Physical Setting of the
Mississippians?
2. What Previous Cultures were located here?
3. Who were
4. Where did Previous Mound Builders live?
5. What else was going on in The World?
C. Culture Exhibit
1. How did Mississippian Communities grow?
2. How Do We Know about the Mississippians?
3. What are the Characteristic Traits of the
culture?
4. What Other Sites were inhabited by
Mississippians?
5. What was the Social Organization of the culture?
D. City Exhibit
1. How was Monks Mound constructed?
2. What was the size and population of the City of
3. Name one reason for reusing Urban Ground?
4. Compare Cahokia to
E. Structures Exhibit
1. What were the purposes of Woodhenge?
2. Why was a Stockade Wall build around the city?
3. What were the
4. What was the use of the different mounds?
a. Platform
b. Conical
c. Ridgetop
F. Life Exhibit
1. What jobs were adapted to Seasons?
2. How did they provide and prepare Food?
3. What was the impact of Agriculture?
4. What were the distinct Social Classes?
5. How did they Play?
6. What were the Mississippian Beliefs?
G. Products Exhibit
1. How were Stone Tools made?
2. What are the uses of Animals?
3. How did they make use of Wood?
4. How was Pottery made?
5. How was Shell used?
6. What items were made from Natural Fibers?
H. Archaeology Exhibit
1. How do archaeologists gather evidence?
2. How are materials from excavations analyzed?
3. How are the results of analyses interpreted and
published?
4. How is a mound excavated?
How Monks Mound was
named. French Trappist monks lived nearby in the early 19th century. A
monastery was built by them on Mound 48 and they cultivated crops on what
became known as Monks Mound.
How Monks Mound was
built. The people
used stone tools, digging sticks, w oven baskets, and their hands. Dirt was
carried from the borrow pits in the baskets to the building site. It has been
estimated that it took fifteen million baskets of earth to complete Monks Mound
over a 300-year period. It was built in stages, perhaps enlarged following the
death of a leader in preparation for a new building for his successor. The
borrow pits inside the