Mississippian Effigy Pottery

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4. (The Mississippians were excellent potters. Their every day pottery consisted of large jars, bowls, bottles, and platters without much decoration. They also made attractive and interesting "effigy" bowls and bottles depicting animals, birds, fish, humans, and mythological creatures. Most of these pots were probably used in ceremonies. This specimen depicts a kneeling human being, molded in a typical Mississsippian style.)

5. (A Mississipian frog effigy bowl from northeast Arkansas.)

6. (A Mississippian fish effigy bottle.)

7. (An effigy bowl depicting a mythological creature.)

8. (A wide mouthed bottle with an engraved design, possibly depicting the underwater panther, an important creature in Southeastern Indian mythology, the creature responsible for people drowning in lakes and rivers.)

9. ("Headpots," as they were called by collectors, represent the apogee of the Mississippian potter's art. No two are alike in facial features or ornament so it seems likely that they were portraits in clay of particular people, perhaps when they died. The lines on the face of this person probably represent the tattooing that was so important to the Mississippians and other Southeastern Indians. According to early European observers, who did not appreciate the beauty of tattooing, most Southeastern Indians "disfigured" their faces and their bodies with elaborate tattooing. The end of this man's nose seems to have been cut off, perhaps as a punishment, or perhaps he was one of many unfortunates whom Hernando De Soto deprived of noses, hands or feet.)