Emerald Mound and Village Site

Emerald Mound and Village Site is an archaeological complex with five earthen mounds in northwestern St. Clair County. The largest mound rises about 50 feet high with a base measuring roughly 300 feet, surrounded by four smaller structures.

Middle Mississippian people built this settlement between 1000 and 1600 and operated it as a satellite community of Cahokia. The site shows how interconnected the mound towns in the region were and how they supported each other.

The mounds show how indigenous communities shaped their landscape for ceremonial purposes and gatherings. Visitors can still observe the layout that reflects the daily life and spiritual practices of the people who lived here.

The grounds span about 145 acres in the northwest area near Lebanon, Illinois. Access is straightforward since the location sits near local roads and the terrain is flat to gently rolling.

This site ranks as the second-largest mound structure in Illinois yet often gets overlooked, though it offers important insights into regional trade networks and craftsmanship. Artifacts found here reveal connections to communities hundreds of miles away.