Final answer:
Experts believe the Cahokians used woodhenges for astronomical observations and ceremonies that were part of their complex societal structure involving mound-building, celestial worship, and political administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The people of Cahokia, part of the Mississippian culture, used woodhenges primarily for a. Astronomical observations and ceremonies. Experts suggest these woodhenges were constructed as part of their sophisticated society which included mound-building, worship of celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars, and elaborate political and religious systems. Ceremonial activities likely included observing astronomical events, which may have been essential for maintaining their calendar and scheduling agricultural or religious events.
The Cahokians were known for their large urban settlements, and the city of Cahokia is notable for its grand mound structures reminiscent of other monumental architecture elsewhere in North America and Mesoamerica. On these mounds, they erected wooden structures for various uses such as temples, burial sites, and political administration. The mounds and woodhenges stand as testimony to Cahokia's complex societal structures where political and religious power was centralized in a small elite and supported by the work of farmers, craftsmen, and traders.