Home Region: Mississippi Basin (North America)

Cahokia - Moorehead

1200 CE 1275 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 us_cahokia_2 / USCahoL

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity; Cahokia - Lohmann-Stirling] [continuity] Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1275 CE 1400 CE Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3) [continuity]

General Description

Generations of archaeologists have been amazed that at the geographical location of Cahokia there were "almost no inhabitants’ until 1000 CE. ^[1] Suddenly there was an influx of people of more than one group ^[2] - the "population surges by at least an order of magnitude within decades" ^[3] - bringing with them to this heretofore vacant spot a new social and settlement structure and an obsession with moundbuilding. ^[4] Almost equally puzzling, the society came to an abrupt end with a migration away around 1250 CE. ^[5]
The fall of Cahokia probably occurred across the whole of the 1200-1275 CE period. Milner estimates that by the Morehead phase the Cahokia (city) population had fallen about 40% from the Lohmann peak. ^[6] The settlement pattern was still of nucleated clusters of houses ^[7] between which were structures "with special ritual and social significance." ^[8] At its height about 15,000 lived in an area called the ’central administrative complex’. ^[9]
Many archaeologists are skeptical whether there was a ruler king at Cahokia ^[10] the polity more likely led by a "a priesthood or a group of ruler-priests" ^[11] within a social strata that included included chiefs, sub-chiefs, elders, priests, and other religious functionaries." ^[10] Whilst most Cahokians were self-sufficient granaries were also present. ^[1] The Cahokians were capable of feats of organization that included the famous Monks Mound and other mounds which required moving 1.1 million m3 or earth and a 15m high wooden palisade that ran for nearly 3km. ^[12]

[1]: (Peregrine/Trubitt 2014, 20) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[2]: (Peregrine/Iseminger 2014, 27) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[3]: (Peregrine 2014) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[4]: (Milner 2006, 168) G R Milner. 2006. The Cahokia Chiefdom: The Archaeology of a Mississippian Society. University Press of Florida. Gainesville.

[5]: (Peregrine/Kelly 2014, 24) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[6]: (Milner 2006, 124) G R Milner. 2006. The Cahokia Chiefdom: The Archaeology of a Mississippian Society. University Press of Florida. Gainesville.

[7]: (Milner 2006, 100) G R Milner. 2006. The Cahokia Chiefdom: The Archaeology of a Mississippian Society. University Press of Florida. Gainesville.

[8]: (Milner 2006, 101) G R Milner. 2006. The Cahokia Chiefdom: The Archaeology of a Mississippian Society. University Press of Florida. Gainesville.

[9]: (Pauketat 2014, 15) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[10]: (Iseminger 2014, 26) W R Iseminger. 2010. Cahokia Mounds: America’s First City. The History Press. Charleston.

[11]: (Peregrine 2014, 31) P Peregrine. S Ortman. E Rupley. 2014. Social Complexity at Cahokia. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2014-03-004. Sante Fe Institute.

[12]: (Milner 2006, 148) G R Milner. 2006. The Cahokia Chiefdom: The Archaeology of a Mississippian Society. University Press of Florida. Gainesville.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

4 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

1 Largest Communication Distance

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Source Of Support

1 Occupational Complexity

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Formal Legal Code

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2) was in:
(1200 CE 1274 CE)	Cahokia

Home NGA: Cahokia

General Variables

Identity and Location Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	15 S Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Original Name	Cahokia - Moorehead Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Alternative Name	City Mounds Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Alternative Name	Cahokia Mounds Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Alternative Name	American Bottom Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Alternative Name	Moorehead Phase Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Temporal Bounds Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	1200 CE Expert
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Duration	[1200 CE ➜ 1275 CE] Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Middle Mississippian Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Cahokia - Sand Prairie Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[125,000 to 150,000] km² Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Succeeding Entity 1275 CE 1400 CE	Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3) [continuity] Expert
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Preceding Entity	continuity; Cahokia - Lohmann-Stirling [continuity] Update here Expert
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Degree of Centralization	loose Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Language Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Language	uncoded Undecided Expert	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Religion Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[10,000 to 15,000] people	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Polity Territory	[2,000 to 3,000] km²	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Polity Population	[40,000 to 50,000] people	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Largest Communication Distance	- Undecided	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 5]	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Religious Level	3	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Military Level	2	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Administrative Level	[3 to 4]	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Professions Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Uncoded Undecided	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Uncoded Undecided	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Source Of Support	uncoded Undecided	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Examination System	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Law Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Irrigation System	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Port	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Canal	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Bridge	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Information / Writing System Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Script	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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History	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Fiction	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Calendar	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Information / Money Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Article	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Information / Postal System Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Information / Measurement System Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moat	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Ditch	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Long Wall	absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Military use of Metals Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Iron	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Bronze	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Projectiles Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Sling	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Self Bow	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Javelin	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Handheld weapons Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Sword	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Spear	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Polearm	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Dagger	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Animals used in warfare Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Elephant	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Donkey	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Camel	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Armor Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Shield	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Helmet	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Breastplate	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Naval technology Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	1200 CE 1275 CE
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Human Sacrifice Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More