Indigenous Pyramids in the United States & North America

‘Mound-building’ began as much as 5,500 years ago in North America. And many of these so-called mounds, are deserving of a more iconic term to accurately describe their purpose. Indigenous pyramids have been called mounds for centuries. But it’s hardly accurate. While they do appear mound-like, especially following years of weathering and erosion, many of these giant heaps of earth are dismissed as something less impressive than what they actually are through the language we use to label them. Referring to these pyramids as mounds harms the public perception of what these earthen structures are and the significance they held to their ancient builders.

While earthen pyramids may not be as impressive as the stone pyramids of Mesoamerica or Egypt, they are still the last remnants of large indigenous societies of the past and are representations of some of their crowning achievements which held great cultural, astronomical, and religious significance. The effort put forth in constructing these pyramids and the precision required during building is noteworthy. And it’s so often ignored by modern society.

The term mound isn’t very descriptive and is far too broad when considering the diversity of mounds in North America. There are more clarifying terms, like ‘platform mounds’, ‘temple mounds’, ‘shell mounds’, and ‘burial mounds’. But sometimes when addressing the many types of mounds, the duck test should be sufficient. We have an easily recognizable and culturally significant word to describe the specific types of truncated or conical structures of the ancient past: Pyramid.

Some may argue that earthworks shouldn’t be classified as pyramids, because most popularized pyramids are stone-built structures. But why limit a style of construction to any specific material? Imagine that we called the Egyptian pyramids ‘stone mounds’. While technically accurate, the designation significantly underplays the complexity and significance of those structures. The same is true for earthen pyramids. The term mound also fails to invoke the imagination, which isn’t a problem for the word ‘pyramid’. ‘Mound’ isn’t an adequate term for many indigenous pyramids in North America. And perhaps this is why the public is unaware that these structures are everywhere in North America.

I wonder if the term mound is a lingering remnant of the European suppression of indigenous cultures and history in North America, meant to downplay the significance of pre-Columbian society. Mounds have commonly been the target of looters and capitalists over the centuries and many of these amazing structures have been erased from history. This isn’t to suggest that modern researchers who continue the use of the term ‘mound’ are responsible or have any intent to suppress indigenous culture. However, the term was adopted from a culture that DID, and perhaps we should consider abandoning it in favor of a word that adequately highlights and describes many of these archaeological wonders.

Middens might be better classified as ‘mounds’ because middens tend to lack structure. They are raised areas of earth built without precision, though in some cases, may have become foundations for structures. Middens are ancient landfills, typically built up over centuries or even thousands of years from materials harvested on-site from rivers, streams, and oceans. Their purpose was usually not ceremonial to the cultures that built them. One example is Turtle Mound, one of the tallest shell middens in the United States, located in Florida on the Canaveral National Seashore. It’s 50 feet tall and once reached an impressive 70 feet before much of the material was removed.

But if we travel to the city of Cahokia and visit Monk’s Mound, the term ‘mound’ starts to sound a bit silly. While Monk’s Mound has been severely damaged after more than a thousand years of exposure to the elements which has altered and sunken its shape, it’s quite clearly more than just a mound. It is a 100-foot-tall earthen platform pyramid built amongst a pre-Columbian city of numerous other smaller pyramids. Cahokia once hosted an entire civilization with a population that may have numbered in the tens of thousands at its peak. At the time of its construction, the platform pyramid would have supported a massive temple or community structure along its top. It isn’t built from stone, but that makes it no less a pyramid.

To raise awareness of these indigenous pyramids with the general public, we need to change the language surrounding mounds. Greater public awareness of these numerous archaeological marvels leads to learning, study, and better efforts to preserve all sites of indigenous history. The word ‘mound’ fails to evoke the structural complexity, and rich history associated with these sites. The term pyramid ought to be used instead, wherever appropriate.

Originally published by me at Medium.