22/11/2025
In the rolling hills of Iowa, Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves over 200 ancient earthworks created by Woodland cultures between 500 BC and AD 1200. Radiocarbon dating points to the peak of construction around AD 800 to 1200, though some of these mounds might be even older. More than 30 are shaped like animals, mostly bears and birds, positioned along the bluffs of the Mississippi River.
Some of these mounds contain burials or artifacts, while others are empty, suggesting a variety of uses that remain unclear. Their careful alignment with rivers and high points in the landscape hints at an understanding of geography and possibly a worldview tied to the land, though the full meaning is still unknown.
Today, Effigy Mounds National Monument stands as a preserved link to the Woodland people, offering insight into their complex traditions. Yet, much about the mounds purpose and significance remains a question for future study. See less