The Mounds: America’s First Cities

Suzanne Kutterer-Siburt.  Over the past 3 years, with guidance from American Indian Tribes/Nations, the archaeological community, Illinois and Missouri state and federal agencies and local communities, the Project Team completed an intensive work plan to gather input and support for elevating the Mississippian mounds in the St Louis and Illinois Metro East (including Monroe County) into a unit of the National Parks Services. The National Park Service is currently developing a reconnaissance study with over 960 individual letters of support for an Illinois State Resolution.  Come learn about the latest developments on this initiative and what it means to Monroe County.  The continued development of the Mounds Heritage Trail will also be discussed since the Mounds Project evolved as a result of the development of the trail. The Mississippian cultural period is 900 to 1300 AD.