ST. LOUIS — A recent study has cast doubt on the long-held belief that drought, caused the decline of Cahokia, a once-thriving Native American settlement near present-day St. Louis. The Cahokia Mounds was once a thriving metropolis 900 years ago with around 50,000 residents. By 1400, however, the site was almost entirely abandoned.
New findings based on stable carbon isotope analysis from Cahokia’s North Plaza suggest a more complex story. The study reveals that despite regional drought trends, low-lying areas in Cahokia remained wet, indicating resilience to climate change. Most soil samples indicated persistent wetland conditions, challenging the idea of widespread drought.
The research implies that the Cahokians likely had advanced agricultural techniques, including irrigation, to sustain their crops despite dry conditions. Additionally, their diverse diet, which included fish, birds, deer, and forest fruits, would have supported the population even if some crops were affected.
Natalie Mueller, an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis believes that the departure from Cahokia was a gradual process rather than a sudden mass exodus.
External pressures or the pursuit of new opportunities might have driven residents to leave over time. Sociopolitical factors, such as warfare and resource exploitation, most likely had a greater impact on Cahokia’s decline than environmental ones.
