Why Was Cahokia Abandoned

Now an archaeologist has likely ruled out one hypothesis for Cahokia’s demise: that flooding caused by the overharvesting of timber made the area increasingly uninhabitable. … “Cahokia was the most densely populated area in North America prior to European contact,” she says.

When was Cahokia abandoned?

The population of Cahokia began to decline during the 13th century, and the site was eventually abandoned by around 1350.

What happened to the people of Cahokia mounds?

After reaching its population height in about 1100, the population shrinks and then vanishes by 1350. Perhaps they had exhausted the land’s resources, as some scholars theorise, or were the victims of political and social unrest, climate change, or extended droughts.