Please read this...A journey of 8...18...28...steps...begins with...

<p class="p1">In continuing with a theme which began last week, this week's column is brought to you by the numbers 8. And 18. And 28. And 38. 48. 58. 62. 66. 70. 74, 84, 93. 106. 118. 130. 142. Take a deep breath. We're almost done. And 154.</p><p class="p1">Back to that particular set of numbers in just a bit. Last week, as you may recall, we shared some memories from a couple of our summer adventures which involved making a connection with Mary Todd Lincoln and her sweetheart. Some guy named Abraham.</p><p class="p1">Our next adventure involved a journey even further into the past. That journey even involved an opportunity to travel along Interstate 64 at a rip-roaring speed of 5 miles per hour. (Do people still say "rip roaring"?)</p><p class="p1">Our destination was the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Cahokia, as one might guess, is in Collinsville. I will not attempt to explain this.</p><p class="p1">Cahokia Mounds, in addition to being a state historic site, is also a designated World Heritage Site. In other words, it's pretty neat.</p><p class="p1">Our journey into the past took us north on Illinois Route 127 and then west on Interstate 64. Route 127 was fine. Interstate 64 – not so fine. I wish we had known that there were several major construction projects underway along the highway. Nothing beats sitting with hundreds of other vehicles on a ribbon of concrete and asphalt with the sun beating down on you and the outside temperature a somewhat uncomfortable 97 or 98 degrees.</p><p class="p1"> Anyway, we did indeed make it to Cahokia, er, Collinsville. At about the time that we arrived, it appeared that Mother Nature might bless us with a downpour. Not that we've seen any of those around here lately. No worries, though. No rain. Just hot. And humid. Very, very, very humid.</p><p class="p1">If you've never been to Cahokia Mounds, I would suggest that you take the time to make the trip. (Be sure to check about road construction before you go.) </p><p class="p1">A postcard that I purchased at the interpretive center at the landmark explained that the "remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site." The civilization, we learned, peaked in the years from AD 1050 to 1200. I wonder how a civilization could have peaked without Facebook or Twitter.</p><p class="p1">The aforementioned remains include Monks Mound. An Illinois Historic Preservation Agency/Cahokia Mounds Museum Society pamphlet noted that "Monks Mound is the largest prehistoric earthen construction in the Americas, containing an estimated 22 million cubic feet of earth. The base covers more than 14 acres, and it rises to a height of 100 feet." And, in case you were wondering, and I am sure that you were: "Monks Mounds was named for the French Trappist monks who lived on a nearby mound from 1809-1813, and farmed the terraces of the large mound."</p><p class="p1">We did not see any monks, or even monkeys, for that matter, as we made the trek to the top of Monks Mound. </p><p class="p1">That's where the numbers you read way back in the first paragraph come into play. There are 154 steps from ground level to the top of Monks Mound. We know, because we counted them. There were 8 steps. Then a bit of a flat ground. Then 18 steps. And so on. And then you get to go back down.</p><p class="p1">I am here to tell you that 154 steps can be a challenge when the temperature is closing in on 95 or so degrees. A cloudy sky helped, and there was a nice breeze at the top.</p><p class="p1">By they way, I'm pretty sure that Monks Mound is more like a thousand feet, or maybe even ten thousand feet, high. Well, it seemed like it.</p><p class="p1">After spending some time taking in a pretty spectacular view at the top of Monks Mound, it was time to head back down the 154 steps. And back to the 21st century.</p><p class="p1">Next time, if all goes as planned, we'll do a little bit of a Martha Stewart thing from the Mississippian time period. Stay tuned.</p><p class="p2"> </p>

Dear readers – the numbers which you will find in the first paragraph of this week's effort have a connection with this image. The numbers begin with 8, go to 154, and are doubled. Can you guess what the numbers represent? Sure you can. They represent an easy way to sweat on a sweltering summer afternoon.



Chert: No, it's not a sound made by a sick bird. Chert is a rock. With a connection to the Union County area. As in Mill Creek. And Kaolin.



The Bird Man Tablet: This unique artifact has become a symbol of the civilization which thrived at Cahokia.



This would be a cast of the Keller Figurine. But then, you probably knew that. Information posted with the display explained that the figurine is carved from Missouri flintclay, which is a soft red stone. But then, you probably knew that. The figurine "depicts a young Mississippian woman in a wrap-around skirt and moccasins."



A picture really doesn't do justice to a very nice panoramic view of Cahokia, as it may have looked way back when. The image is on display in the interpretive center at Cahokia Mounds.