A History of Monks Mound

The Ramey/ Peet Cahokia tablet

With the basic design of the Georgia-Tennessee gorgets in mind it is interesting to examine the well-known Cahokia Tablet (fig 21). This irregular stone tablet bears incised on one side a central striped pole, flanked by two pileated woodpecker heads, their mouths open and “speech” scrolls issuing from their mouths. On the reverse is engraved the Pole again, this time flanked by two human heads tilted backward with mouths open as if singing, again with speech scrolls.

There can be little doubt that the Georgia-Tennessee gorgets and the Cahokia Tablet are expressing in highly simplified form a more complicated symbolic concept or ritual. It is of particular interest, therefore, to examine four gorgets from the Spiro Mound figured by Hamilton in plates 88c, 89a, and b, and 90b. In plate 90b there is a central pole with four spots consisting of concentric circles.

It is surmounted by a pot decorated with curving lines, issuing from which is a gulloche-like element, and on each side are two human figures, apparently dancing and singing. With right and left hands they support the pot, and in their left and right hands are rattles. Their kilts are ornamented with crosses and are supported by large fringed and knotted sashes. One has a large fanlike feather bustle, the other is a turkey hen drawn in quite a lifelike manner.

Several similarities are apparent when comparing the Weck Stone with the Ramey Tablet. A spiral scroll is emanating from the open beak of the woodpecker. Each tablet has a face opposite of the woodpecker head.

Ramey tablet is broken in quarters, and only one half of it was every found.
Dimensions: 61.5 mm by 75.5mm by 15.5mm thick. Weight=108 grams
It is associated with Mound 18, a conical burial mound just to the east of Monks Mound.

According to Edward Armstrong, in the Folklore of Birds,

“Romans regarded the bird as a transformed king, so in Indian legend he is a Raja who lost his throne. All the evidence consistently points to the woodpecker as having been associated with fertility. The birds close association with the oak suggests that it did not become a thunderbird earlier than the period when oak forests were widespread (5000BC-2000BC).”

Armstrong writes that the evidence of woodpeckers as a motif falls between the Mesolithic and the Bronze Age. Myths relate that a woodpecker would call before an approaching storm, and that the bird drinks only rainwater. The red cap of the Piliated authenticated his status as rain-maker. He was making thunder and so bringing rain.

The original is now in the collection of the Madison County Historical Museum in Edwardsville. Obverse has two faces incised on one side, and the farces of what appear to be stylized pileated woodpecker heads with speech scrolls emanating from their mouths on the other. On both sides the images are separated by a margin which has been identified as a striped pole and is included as a basic characteristic of the Southern Ceremonial Complex. Reverse depiction of faces are significantly different from the one on the Cahokia Tablet. Both have two occipital hair knots and a variation of speech glyphs coming from their mouths. They have headdresses depicting the beaded forelock, much shorter noses, and small yet clearly discernible ear spools.

There are several points which we make in connection with the tablet.

First, in reference to the faces; these are exactly such faces as are common among the sun-worshipers of the south.

Second, the figures correspond to stone idols and terra cotta images found elsewhere, the retreating forehead and open mouth having become familiar to us by means of the pipes and incense burners found in the southern mounds.

Third, the faces on the tablet are such as to correspond to the elongated skulls found at Cahokia and among the southern mounds. These flattened skulls are peculiar. They differ entirely from the round skulls, which are common at Cahokia and in the northern States – Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin – but which are not founds in the Southern States. Two distinct races evidently inhabited this spot at different times.

Fourth, the chief point, which we make, is in reference to the horse shoe figure seen issuing from the mouth. A photograph might reveal the lines in such a way that our readers would be better satisfied, but we throw it out a s theory that this horse-shoe near the mouth of each figure is a symbol of the soul, and that we have in it the same symbolism common in the far east, the horse-shoe being considered the emblem of the soul or the spirit of life in India, and corresponds to the Nile key in Egypt.”

(p 58-59 American Antiquarian)

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Appendix 1:

Lithic Types from the American Bottom Region:

POINT NAME	ACTUAL LENGTH (mm)	ACTUAL WIDTH (mm)	ACTUAL THICKNESS (mm)	Early Est.	LATE EST.	TIME PERIOD
Clovis				-12000	-11000
Scraper				-12000	1500
Scraper				-12000	1500
Scraper				-12000	1500
Scraper				-12000	1500
Scraper				-12000	1500
Scraper				-12000	1500
Paleo Blade				-11000	-9000
Folsom				-9000	-8000	Paleo
Agate Basin				-8500	-8000	Early Archaic
Agate Basin				-8500	-8000	Early Archaic
Agate Basin				-8500	-8000	Early Archaic
Agate Basin				-8500	-8000	Early Archaic
Sloan Dalton				-8500	-7900	Early Archaic
Kessell Side Notched	60.11	36.87	8.12	-8400	-7400	Early Archaic
Hardin	75.39	29.66	7.16	-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin				-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin				-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin				-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin				-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin	53.46	22.5	7.29	-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Hardin Barbed	62.89	32.78	6.61	-8000	-5500	Early Archaic
Lost Lake	63.4	43.62	8	-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Lost Lake	53.35	36.65	8.53	-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Quad				-8000	-7244	Late Paleo
Square Knife				-8000	-6000	Archaic
St. Charles Dovetail	74	37		-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
St. Charles Dovetail	40.74	27.82	6.6	-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
St. Charles Dovetail				-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
St. Charles Dovetail	79.99	35.29	6.84	-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Thebes		57.01	8.9	-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Thebes				-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Thebes				-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Thebes				-8000	-6000	Early Archaic
Triangle - Unknown				-8000	-6000	Archaic
Triangle - Unknown				-8000	-6000	Archaic
Triangle - Unknown				-8000	-6000	Archaic
Triangle - Unknown				-8000	-6000	Archaic
Drill	90.1	22.54	8.8	-7500	-6500	Early Archaic
Drill				-7500	-6500	Early Archaic
Drill				-7500	-6500	Early Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6900	Early Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk Corner Notched				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk punch serratetd				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Kirk serratetd				-7500	-6000	Archaic
Stillwell	103.25	38.43	6.92	-7500	-6900	Early Archaic
Stillwell Corner Notched	72			-7500	-6900	Early Archaic
Neuberger	77.45	37.31	7.94	-7300	-7000	Early Archaic
Greenbrier				-7000	-5000	Archaic
Greenbrier	47.76	25.88	8.84	-7000	-5000	Archaic
Maccorkle stemmed				-7000	-6500	Early Archaic
Kirk Stemmed	76.12	30.27	9.7	-6900	-6000	Archaic
St. Albans Side Notched				-6900	-6500	Early Archaic
Lecroy Bifurcated				-6500	-5800	Archaic
Crescent Bannerstone				-6000	-4000	Archaic
Crescent Bannerstone				-6000	-4000	Archaic
Godar Matanzas				-6000	-3000	Archaic
double edged bannerstone				-5800	-4000	Middle Archaic
double notched buttefly				-5500	-3500	Archaic
Tama	44.54	26.64	8.45	-4500	-3000	Archaic
Richardson Tablet				-4300	-500	Late Archaic
Celt				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Celt				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Celt large				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Chungke Stone				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Pestle				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Stone Ball				-4000	-2000	Archaic
Bottleneck	58.15	20.78	6.66	-3770	-3000	Archaic
Bottleneck				-3770	-3000	Archaic
Karnak	64.51	22.65	9.24	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Karnak				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Karnak				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Karnak Unstemmed				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Karnak Unstemmed				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas				-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas	68.2	26.54	6.67	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas	68.2	26.54	6.67	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas	68.2	26.54	6.67	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas	68.2	26.54	6.67	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Matanzas	68.2	26.54	6.67	-3700	-3000	Archaic
Elk River Stemmed	84.03	30.12	9.66	-3500	-2000	Late Archaic
Lamoka	54.43	23.06	6.47	-3500	-1800	Late Archaic
Lamoka	34.48	15.62	5.97	-3500	-1800	Late Archaic
Lamoka				-3500	-1800	Late Archaic
Common Corner Notch	65.99	32.32	9.06	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Common Corner Notch	87.47	32.88	8.49	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Etley				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Etley				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Etley	158.75	41.05	30.07	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed	62	28.51	8.96	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed	54.06	26.24	10.27	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed	53.35	28.64	10.1	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed	55.41	30.71	11.02	-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Table Rock Stemmed, snapped				-3000	-1000	Late Archaic
Brewerton				-2980	-1723	Late Archaic
Brewerton				-2980	-1723	Late Archaic
Brewerton				-2980	-1723	Late Archaic
Brewerton	26.06	17.03	7.97	-2980	-1723	Late Archaic
Brewerton	31.11	19.31	8.29	-2980	-1723	Late Archaic
Ledbetter Stemmed				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Ledbetter Stemmed				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Ledbetter Stemmed				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Ledbetter Stemmed				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Ledbetter Stemmed				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Pickwick	73.92	33.52	9.24	-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Snook Hill				-1800	-1600	Late Archaic
Saratoga-Pickwick				-2500	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	171.45			-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	70.42	23.95	11.48	-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	74.58	22.6	11.35	-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	98.45	29.47	11.86	-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	112.8	29.94	13.81	-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Sedalia Lanceolate	114.67	30.11	14	-2000	-1000	Late Archaic
Ashtabula				-1700	-700	Late Archaic
Nebo Hill Lanceolate				-1605	-1020	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom	43.63	26.57	6.54	-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Merom				-1600	-1000	Late Archaic
Adena Gary				-1500	100	Woodland
Buck Creek Barbed	46.39	24.66	5.83	-1500	-600	Late Archaic
Buck Creek Barbed	67.44	33.72	7.92	-1500	-600	Late Archaic
Buck Creek Barbed	44.88	22.24	7.54	-1500	-600	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek	74.32	35.89	10.09	-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek				-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek	88.93	32.75	10.81	-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Little Bear Creek	75.61	35.87	9.05	-1500	-500	Late Archaic
Delhi	84.63	37.68	9.32	-1300	-200	Late Archaic
Delhi - Wade Base				-1300	-200	Late Archaic
Cresap Stemmed				-1000	-500	Late Archaic
Cresap Stemmed				-1000	-500	Late Archaic
Cypress Stemmed				-1000	-300	Woodland
Adena	52.28	22.37	9.05	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	52.28	22.37	9.05	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	61.62	25.85	10.98	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	44.74	21.97	8.32	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena				-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	69.43	29.26	7.63	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	85.44	32.82	8.32	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena	34.96	19.95	5.69	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena Blade	93.13	49.22	9.76	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena Blade	83.75	41.45	6.78	-800	-300	Woodland
Adena Robins				-800	200	Woodland
Adena Robins	37.96	23.34	7.95	-800	200	Woodland
Dickson Contracting Stemmed				-800	-300	Woodland
Dickson Contracting Stemmed				-800	-300	Woodland
Dickson Contracting Stemmed				-800	-300	Woodland
Dickson Contracting Stemmed				-800	-300	Woodland
Dickson Contracting Stemmed				-800	-300	Woodland
Motley				-800	-600	Woodland
Motley				-800	-600	Woodland
Motley				-800	-600	Woodland
Motley				-800	-600	Woodland
Motley	48.56	21.33	6.97	-800	-600	Woodland
Motley	57.09	28.72	8.05	-800	-600	Woodland
Motley	38.34	22.16	7.98	-800	-600	Woodland
Kramer				-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer				-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer				-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer				-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer				-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	53.11	29.36	6.28	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	55.11	27.97	8.28	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	37.9	23.37	7.94	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	53.82	30.68	8.74	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	51.28	23.93	7.73	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer	59.22	26.27	8.71	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer - mussell shell	41.56	15.59	5.91	-500	-400	Woodland
Kramer Drill				-500	-400	Woodland
Snyders				-130	-120	Woodland
Snyders	43.92	27.94	6.57	-130	-120	Woodland
Snyders				-130	-120	Woodland
Snyders				-130	-120	Woodland
Snyders	55.09	49.12	10.17	-130	-120	Woodland
Snyders	46.91	26.92	8.58	-130	-120	Woodland
Lowe Flared base				-100	200	Woodland
Lowe Flared base				-100	200	Woodland
Lowe Flared base				-100	200	Woodland
Steuben Expanded Stemmed				100	500	Woodland
Steuben Expanded Stemmed				100	500	Woodland
Steuben Expanded Stemmed				100	500	Woodland
Jacks Reef	49.5	32.09	6.04	400	500	Woodland
Jacks Reef	34.91	26.08	11.06	400	500	Woodland
Hamilton Incurvate				500	1000	mississippian
Levanna	22.47	16.77	5.19	700	1200	mississippian
Hoe	185	90		800	1350	mississippian
Hoe	161.925	135.29	14.04	800	1350	mississippian
Madison	23.7	13.68	2.74	800	1300	mississippian
Madison				800	1300	mississippian
Madison				800	1300	mississippian
Madison				800	1300	mississippian
Madison				800	1300	mississippian
Madison	35.77	14.5	4.1	800	1300	mississippian
Scallorn	27.78	9.98	4.09	800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Scallorn				800	1100	mississippian
Sequoya - Flake				800	1350	mississippian
Sequoya - Flake	30.62	15.84	1.77	800	1350	mississippian
Sequoya - Flake	30.62	15.84	1.77	800	1350	mississippian
Sequoyah	24.65	13.09	2.84	800	1350	mississippian
Sequoyah	19.6	10.1	3.28	800	1350	mississippian
Sequoyah	26.49	12.73	3.99	800	1350	mississippian
Sequoyah				800	1350	mississippian
Sequoyah - Base	19.11	12.8	5.7	800	1350	mississippian
Washita	19.5	12.35	3.16	800	1050	mississippian
Washita	18.79	11.72	2.73	800	1050	mississippian
Cahokia	26.44	13.86	3.24	900	1350	mississippian
Cahokia				900	1350	mississippian
Cahokia				900	1350	mississippian
Cahokia	38.07	15.43	4	900	1350	mississippian
Big Celt	158.75	78.5	48.6	1150	1200
Little Celt	129.4	62.57	34.93	1150	1200
Salt Glazed Crockery				1820	1860
Spoon				1850	1900
Spoon				1850	1900
Drill
Triangular Blade	64.71	42.61	8.34
Unifacial Triangular Blade	33.34	19.17	5.35

Source of comparative data: Justice, Noel, Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of the Midcontinental and Eastern United States: A Modern Survey and Reference.

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