Cahokian Neighborhood Dynamics: New Geophysical Data from Rouch Mound Group and Rattlesnake West Neighborhoods

New geophysical surveys at Cahokia Mounds reveal that peripheral neighborhoods, such as the Rouch Mound Group and Rattlesnake West, mirrored the architectural and infrastructure patterns of Cahokia's densely populated Downtown Precinct. By analyzing structure length and width ratios from these areas alongside datasets from the Cahokia and East St. Louis precincts, researchers identified shifts in neighborhood density over time. This noninvasive approach provides deeper insights into how communities on the outskirts adopted and adapted Cahokia's urban planning, offering a clearer picture of its societal organization.

Baires, S. E., Malouchos, E. W., Baltus, M. R., & Skousen, B. J. (2025). Cahokian Neighborhood Dynamics: New Geophysical Data from Rouch Mound Group and Rattlesnake West Neighborhoods. American Antiquity, 90(2), 328–345. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2024.62