Mississippi megafloods wiped out biggest ancient Native American civilisation of Cahokia
Mississippi megafloods wiped out biggest ancient Native American civilisation of Cahokia
Hannah Osborne
By Hannah Osborne May 5, 2015 12:16 BST
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Cahokia was probably wiped out by megafloods, scientists say(William R. Iseminger)
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Megafloods likely wiped out the largest and most influential prehistoric Native American civilisations, scientists have said.
Cahokia was the biggest and most prominent cultural centre north of Mexico between around 1000 and 1200, having emerged around 600 AD. It had economic power and influence over a huge area, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
However, the city suddenly declined and by 1400, the city that spanned over six square miles had been completely abandoned. Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison now say they know why.
Publishing their findings in the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences, scientist say major flood events in the Mississippi River are tied to both the culture's rise and fall.
More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/megafloods-wiped-out-biggest-prehistoric-native-american-civilisation-cahokia-1499723