In a revelation that challenges everything we thought we knew about American history, journalist Ian James has unearthed the astonishing story of North America's indigenous pyramid builders. His new book, The Pyramids of the United States: A Story of Builders and Destroyers, exposes a hidden chapter that has been systematically erased from the national narrative.
The Lost Civilisations of Ancient America
While most associate pyramids exclusively with Egypt and Central America, James's meticulous research reveals how numerous Native American cultures constructed remarkable earthwork pyramids across what is now the United States. From the Mississippi Valley to the Ohio River basin, these sophisticated structures once dominated the landscape, built by advanced societies with complex spiritual and astronomical knowledge.
A Deliberate Erasure from History
James's investigation uncovers how these architectural marvels were systematically destroyed or ignored by European settlers and subsequent American expansion. The book documents how racism and cultural superiority led to the dismissal of Native American achievements, with many pyramids deliberately flattened for farmland or urban development.
"The scale of destruction is heartbreaking," James explains. "We're talking about structures that rivaled some of the great monuments of the ancient world, yet most Americans have no idea they ever existed."
Modern Rediscovery and Preservation
Despite centuries of neglect, several significant pyramid sites survive today, offering glimpses into this lost heritage:
- Cahokia Mounds in Illinois, featuring Monks Mound - the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas
- Poverty Point in Louisiana, a UNESCO World Heritage site with massive concentric earthworks
- Serpent Mound in Ohio, an extraordinary effigy mound stretching nearly 1,400 feet
Why This History Matters Today
James argues that understanding this lost history is crucial for contemporary America. "Recognising the sophistication of pre-Columbian societies forces us to reconsider our national identity and our relationship with indigenous peoples," he states. The book comes at a time when there's growing interest in reassessing American history through more inclusive lenses.
Through extensive archival research and interviews with archaeologists and tribal historians, James has created not just a work of historical recovery, but a powerful meditation on memory, loss, and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves.
