Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos by Sally A. Kitt Chappell

Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos by Sally A. Kitt Chappell

“The components of the future earth and of Monks Mound were once bits of matter, created in the cauldrons of exploding stars, moving with great, swirling gravitational forces, like the stars still forming near the Cone Nebula today.” pg xiv

Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos is a reference book about the historic site, Cahokia Mounds. Author Sally Chappell takes the reader from the Big Bang all way through to the present – an estimated 13 billion years.

To say it is an ambitious book is an understatement.

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“A major change in midwestern climate about 1250 may have caused considerable stress in Cahokia. The overall temperature of the region cooled during this infamous Pacific Climate Episode.” pg 72

That being said, once Chappell gets into the history of the site itself, it is an excellent look at a little-remembered place of forgotten significance.

Monks Mound is the largest earthen mound in North America, but so few people know about it.

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The visitor’s center is currently closed for a much-needed update. I’ve been in there half a dozen times and it doesn’t do the site justice.

What Cahokia Mounds could really use is a team of historians, archaeologists, and a couple years worth of grants to properly study it.

And more books like Cahokia: Mirror of the Cosmos.

“By 1900 the Cahokia landscape was so changed by farming, canals, ditches, clear-cutting, railroad construction, housing, erosion, highways, streets, telephone lines, and rogue vegetation that only shadows of its past remained.” pg 151

Recommended for scholars who are interested in Cahokia Mounds. Chappell gives you a broad but ultimately helpful place to start your research.

Thanks for reading!

Weird Illinois by Troy Taylor, Mark Sceurman, Mark Moran

Weird Illinois by Troy Taylor, Mark Sceurman, Mark Moran

Weird Illinois is a mix of stories, speculation and ghost lore from my home state, Illinois. And it is really weird.

The chapters cover topics from local legends and lore to bizarre beasts and roadside oddities. But I’m not sure how true it is.

The road-side attractions seem to be the “most real” part of this book, but the legends and ghost stories could be simply myths or urban legends.

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It makes me want to put together an investigation, or several, to go find out what is true or not. That is part of the charm of this book.

My favorite chapter was about the “bizarre beasts” of Illinois which is a collection of animal oddity or cryptozoological stories from the area. I really want to see the “Albino Squirrels of Olney” mentioned on page 95.

I was creeped out by the stories of the “Murphysboro Mud Monster” on page 84. That’s not very far from here!

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I think this book could be useful for travelers who are looking for entertainment that is off-the-beaten path in Illinois or trivia fans.

Make sure to read it with a discerning mind, as I said, I’m not certain how much of this is “non-fiction.” I can say: it’s good fun.

Thanks for reading!