An anthropology major with an archaeology concentration and a history minor, Eric Hohenthal ’25 has long known of his interest in his chosen field. Ever since he was a child, Eric has been “obsessed with the ancient world. I was naturally drawn to archaeology.”

This past June 2-July 6, Hohenthal went on his first field “dig” when he accompanied anthropology Professor Sarah Baires to Cahokia, an ancient Native American city east of the modern city of St. Louis, MO. An expert on Cahokia, Baires was featured in the 2018 PBS series “Native America.”

“Professor Baires is amazing; she’s been my favorite professor,” said Hohenthal. “She has great insights and is passionate about Cahokia and how it relates to modern indigenous peoples. Our excavation site was in a Cahokia neighborhood near Monk’s Mound, a popular location in the city.”

The earth is chiefly clay in this area of Cahokia, making digging very difficult. Nonetheless, Hohenthal and Baires found several artifacts and two houses in the ruins of the city.

Cahokia is one of several North and South American ancient cities that were planned out and laid out in a grid pattern that is five degrees off true north, reflecting the religious beliefs of the different tribes that inhabited the city.

“There were a multiplicity of ethnicities at Cahokia,” said Hohenthal. He indicated that the city was depopulated in the Middle Ages based on the inhabitants becoming disillusioned with the prevalent ideology.

His appetite for fieldwork whetted by his experiences at Cahokia, Hohenthal said he would like to pursue additional digs in Connecticut, home to the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. He also hopes to return to Cahokia. “My ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in archaeology,” Hohenthal said, indicating that he plans to apply to graduate school at Boston University.

“I have truly enjoyed my time at Eastern,” he said. “Everyone in the Anthropology Department has been very helpful to me in meeting my goals. They have provided resources for me to pursue fieldwork and helped me plan for graduate school.”

(Professor Baires begins a new position on Aug. 23 as associate researcher for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.)