A series of lectures at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site ends on March 13, Kristin Hedman of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey presents “Who Were Cahokia’s Immigrants?” By measuring the element strontium in teeth found at Cahokia Mounds, experts can tell whether a person who lived and died 1,000 years ago was native to the region or immigrated from elsewhere. Her findings suggest at least one-third of Cahokia’s inhabitants were not native to the area.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis, in Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55/70 (Exit 6) and Interstate 255 (Exit 24), on Collinsville Road. The Interpretive Center is open 9 a.m. – 5 pm. Wednesday through Sunday. There is no admission fee but we do suggest donations of $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for students and $15 for families.