Home Region:  Mississippi Basin (North America)

Cahokia - Late Woodland I

300 CE 450 CE
EQ 2020  us_woodland_3 / USMisRo
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
150 BCE 300 CE Cahokia - Middle Woodland (us_woodland_2)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
450 CE 600 CE Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)    [continuity]


  General Description  
2000 BCE
Period of population growth begins [1]

1 CE
c1 CE "large quantities of native cultigens began to be incorporated into midcontinental diets. [1]

100 CE
Maize appears in the archaeological record [2]
Atlatl is the contemporary weapon [2]
"periodic rituals at ceremonial mound centers" [2]
"groups ensured access to needed resources through maintenance of alliance-exchange relationships" [2]

200 CE
300 CE
Early arrowheads appear. "Beginning A.D. 300-400, the bow replaced the atlatl in most regions" [2]
In the Mississippian region (Midwest and Upland South) the transition from atlatl to bow was "relatively rapid because dart points disappear from the archaeological record" [2]
Introduction of the bow in the Mississippi region decreased social complexity because it caused the collapse of the Hopewell system, the abandonment of mound centers and alliance-exchange relationships [2]
Bow enabled a new bow and native crops subsistence strategy which lead to a movement to and the effective exploitation of previously marginal lands and "household autonomy" [2]
There followed an economic intensification and population growth which eventually "packed the landscape with settlements." [2]

400 CE
500 CE

"The greatest environmental hazard would have been a late summer Mississippi River flood similar to the one that took place in 1993. A rise in the river at that time of the year simultaneously drowned crops, prevented easy fishing in shallow ponds, and ruined food stored in underground pits. Floods attributable to severe storms, including excessive water funnelled into the floodplain by creeks that drain the uplands, certainly caused localized disasters much like they did a century ago before effective flood-control measures were put in place." [3]
"No other major site was as advantageously situated. Cahokia was located in what was by far the widest expanse of land suitable for settlement in the American Bottom. More people could live there than anywhere else ... The high ground where Cahokia was located was bordered on the north and south by large tracts of low-lying land that received the waters of different upland streams." [3]

[1]: (Milner, Chaplin and Zavodny 2013)

[2]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[3]: (Milner 2006, 168)

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.
Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3) was in:
 (300 CE 449 CE) Cahokia
Home NGA: Cahokia

General Variables
Identity and Location Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 15 S Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Original Name Cahokia - Late Woodland I Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name American Bottom Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name Late Woodland Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name Rosewood Phase Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Temporal Bounds Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 450 CE Expert
Loading...
Duration [300 CE ➜ 450 CE] Expert
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Supracultural Entity Late Woodland Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity Cahokia - Late Woodland II Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
450 CE 600 CE
Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)   [continuity]  Expert
Loading...
Preceding Entity
150 BCE 300 CE
Loading...
Degree of Centralization none Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Language Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Expert 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Religion Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Religious Level 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Military Level 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Administrative Level 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Professions Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Occupational Complexity 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Merit Promotion Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Examination System Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Law Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Judge Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Court Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Irrigation System Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Food Storage Site Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Port Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Canal Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Bridge 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Special-purpose Sites Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Information / Writing System Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Script Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Sacred Text Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Religious Literature Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Practical Literature Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Philosophy Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
History Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Fiction 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Calendar Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Information / Money Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Paper Currency Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Indigenous Coin Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Foreign Coin Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Article 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Information / Postal System Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
General Postal Service Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Courier Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Information / Measurement System Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Modern Fortification Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moat 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Fortified Camp 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Earth Rampart 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Ditch 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Complex Fortification 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Long Wall absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Iron Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Bronze Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Projectiles Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Sling Siege Engine Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Sling 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Self Bow 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Javelin 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Handheld Firearm Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Crossbow Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Composite Bow 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Atlatl 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Sword 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Spear 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Polearm 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Dagger 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Battle Axe 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Elephant Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Donkey Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Dog 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Camel Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Armor Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Shield 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Scaled Armor Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Plate Armor Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Limb Protection 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Leather Cloth 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Laminar Armor Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Helmet 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Chainmail Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Breastplate 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Naval technology Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Small Vessels Canoes Etc 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 300 CE  450 CE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions