Mysterious Disappearances

The Lewis and Clark expedition made its base camp at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. While camped there to conduct training exercises for the expedition, they discovered another group of mounds near those explored by Clark's brother, now called Cahokia Mounds. From the description of these mounds it may be assumed that they were likely part of the Cahokia Complex and probably burial mounds, but it is not certain that they were. These mounds have since been destroyed to lay in three Railroad beds. Lewis and Clark ran across many earth works during their expedition but, to their disappointment, none compared with those at the Cahokia site of the Mississippian period (Osgood 16-17). While "exploring" the Missouri River they stopped to visit Daniel Boone. They knew Boone was familiar with many of the Amerindian Oral Histories. Lewis and Clark were finding indications that the area had once held a large population and it seems likely Lewis and Clark had hoped Boone could shed some light on their discoveries and the reason for the builders disappearance (Kennedy 175-177). That Boone was also familiar with the "Dark and Bloody Ground" is common knowledge. What is not common knowledge, however, is the reason for the area being called so. The lands referred to by this name were not called "Dark and Bloody" because of the hostile inhabitants of the area as is commonly thought. On the contrary, the area was sparsely populated, and in many cases avoided by Amerindians because it had been the scene of what came to be known as the "Great Dying." Sometime between 1500 and 1700 the Amerindian population of the area had died off. Most Anthropologists believe that the diseases the European explorers had proceeded them and caused this event (Walters 281). Whatever the case, Boone knew the stories and it is likely Lewis and Clark had hoped he could explain the mysteries of their findings (Kennedy 175-177). When Lewis and Clark arrived at the Boone home, they found its master away, and so were left to postulate their own theories and ideas regarding the mounds and earth-works they were encountering. Clark was familiar with his brother's study of the Cahokia site as well as the mounds across the river in St. Louis, and he mistakenly assumed that the earth works they were finding along the Missouri River were of the same nature. The information they gathered was forwarded to Jefferson who added it to his ever- expanding library. This information also led him closer to his conclusion that the Amerindians were indeed the builders of the mounds (Kennedy 175-177). It should also be noted that both the De Soto and Navarez expeditions encountered Mississippian Mound builders that were in a constant state of war. When the area they had explored was entered again 80 yrs. later these Civilizations were gone. The most likely cause that is verified by Amerindian Oral traditions was disease. The rulers were considered manifestations of God and when this disease began to decimate the people the people would have held the rulers responsible. Based on research I have done it is at this time that the historical tribes were formed. There is strong evidence that these combined factors were the cause of the fall of the Mississippian era.