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Abstract

Cahokia, a prehistoric site in the American Midwest, had massive human sacrifice which shows that a small elite had control over the legitimate use of force, probably had political and economic classes, had a hierarchical bureaucracy, and had a settlement system of at least four decision-making levels. As such it was probably the capital of a society organized at a “state” level.

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Cahokia: The Political Capital of the “Ramey” State?

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