The Solar Calendar of Woodhenge in Cahokia | Native America: Cities of the Sky

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PBS Learning Media
The Solar Calendar of Woodhenge in Cahokia | Native America: Cities of the Sky
Interviews with archaeologists provide an explanation of Cahokia’s urban layout and the similarities to the celestial blueprint of Teotihuacan. These archaeologists discovered Cahokia’s “Woodhenge,” a ring of cedar posts that acts as a solar calendar to determine when to plant and harvest and gather for ceremonies. The people of Cahokia considered the area a sacred space. Like the sun pyramid in Teotihuacan, the location of Woodhenge is precisely aligned with the sun’s movements.