Eclipse Across America, Ancient Sites in Totality - August 2017

Submitted by Bat400 on Thursday, 04 May 2017 Page Views: 3673

**Cahokia - Monk's Mound** submitted by bat400 : Monk's Mound taken from the SE. bat 400. 23 June 2007. (Vote or comment on this photo)

This is a proposal for a meeting of Megalithic Portal members at or before the solar eclipse on 21st August. The path of totality will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Those who would like to view the eclipse at an ancient site will be spoiled for choice.

The greatest concentrations of sites already on the portal lie on or near the eclipse path in two locations: Along the Mississippi River south of Saint Louis, and in western North Carolina. A more diffuse concentrations of sites occurs in central Tennessee. I'm specifically looking at a meet-up in the Midwest (Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri.)

The edge of the path of totality just misses the great mound center of Cahokia but centers not far away on a minor village site of Common Fields Mound. This is on the south side of the small French colonial town of Ste Genevieve, which will get 2mins 40 seconds of totality.

Other sites in this midwestern region with the longest duration of totality include the Kincaid Mounds just east of Paducah but on the Illinois side of the Ohio River. (2 min 26 sec of totality.)

Much farther south east in Tennessee, the Castalian Springs Mound will see over 2 and a half minutes of totality.

Down in North Carolina sites like the Nikwasi Mound will still get over a minute's totality.

Naturally, cloud cover being what it is, an eclipse watch may need to make last-minute changes in location to try to find the best viewing spots.

If you are planning to fly into the US (Midwest viewing areas) there are several major city airports to choose from including St. Louis MO, Nashville TN, Louisville KY, with Indianapolis IN and even Chicago as farther alternates. If you plan on viewing farther south east in the Smokey Mountains or the Carolinas, then the airports of Atlanta GA, Columbia SC, and Charlotte NC are better options.

If you haven't travelled in the US before, you will need to rent a car (or motorcycle) for any trip where eclipse watching or visiting ancient sites is your plan. You will also need to arrange an ESTA USA travel visa.

I've created two potential "meetups" for visiting ancient sites on the weekend immediately prior to the 2017 total eclipse on 21 August.

The concept is to have a group of sites to visit over the weekend in the vicinity of the path of totality, and actually viewing the eclipse from one of these ancient sites, or immediately in its vicinity on the 21st (which is a Monday)

Possible Tennessee trip: See my Trip Blog 3

All of these site are accessible from Nashville Tennessee area hotels and motels. Totality is longest from the Castalian Springs Mounds. I'd recommend visiting the Nashville Museum first, then touring a variety of sites, followed by eclipse viewing on Monday from Castalian Springs.

Possible Cahokia trip: See my Trip Blog 2

All of these site are accessible from Collinsville, Illinois area hotels and motels. Totality is longest from the Common Fields site. This site is not actually accessible to the public but can be overlooked from a main road with layby areas. I'd recommend visiting the Cahokia Museum and site early in the trip, with eclipse viewing on the Monday from near Ste Genevieve, Missouri, along the Mississippi River.

I've suggested two trips as there is no way to determine weather for viewing this far in advance. Would anyone else be interested in such a trip? Add a note to our Forum Thread or send me a Private Message - Bat400

My guide to the Mounds of the Lower Ohio River Valley