Sinnissippi Mounds: A 2000-Year-Old Puzzle in Sterling, Illinois

The Sinnissippi Mounds, a centuries-old burial ground in Sterling, Illinois, are a mystery. The Sterling Park District acquired Sinnissippi Park in 1934. Overlooking the Rock River, this historical site containing the mounds was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1979. Yet, despite their conspicuous presence, these mounds continue to baffle explanation. Hailing from the Hopewell tradition, these mounds date back around 2000 years, connecting to a wide trade network along the Mississippi River.

Hezekiah Brink, Sterling's first European resident, noted the mounds' existence in 1834. W. C. Holbrook examined them in 1877 and published his findings the same year. The Sterling Science Club were intrigued by the burial mounds near the Rock River. However, following the 1870s, the mounds were ransacked, and significant archaeological treasures were taken. Interestingly, the Sinnissippi Site is listed as one of the National Register's 'address restricted' sites, a rather public graveyard.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons