New discoveries about 'sophisticated' Native American tribe that mysteriously vanished nearly 600 years ago unearthed in Illinois

A sprawling Native American city stretching six square-miles and home to roughly 20,000 people disappeared from the Mississippi river valley over 600 years ago. And while the'Cahokia' tribe mysteriously vanished, archaeologists have uncovered artifacts from the society that could provide clues about the group - their culture, language, and even their downfall are still lost to history. The team university researchers recently discovered pottery, tools, like'micro-drills,' and wall trenches at the Illinois site, dating back approximately 900 years. Wood particles were also analyzed at the site as experts hypothesize the people cut down forests, which degraded the oil and may have caused flooding - an event that could have led to the tribe abandoning the city. The team university researchers recently discovered pottery (pictured), tools, like'micro-drills,' and wall trenches at the Illinois site, dating back approximately 900 years The excavation is being conducted by students from Saint Louis University (SLU) and neighboring colleges, who are working toward a career in archaeology.