PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
human HEAD effigies
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
ARKANSAS & MISSOURI
A.D. 1200 TO 1,500
PAGE 2 OF 3 PAGES
COPYRIGHT NOVEMBER 30, 2004 PETER A. BOSTROM
Human head vessels---abstract.
LATE MISSISSIPPIAN "HEAD POTS'-----ABSTRACT

    Late Mississippian human head effigies are rare. In 1968 Lawrence Mills reports that he has located and described 63 examples. Previous to his study, 59 examples had been reported.

Human head vessel, Pecan Point, Arkansas.
DRAWING CREDIT, 20TH ANNUAL REPORT, BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, 1903, HOLMES
HUMAN HEAD EFFIGY VESSEL
LATE MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
PECAN POINT, ARKANSAS
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION COLLECTION

   This illustration, of an exceptionally well made Type-B "head pot," accentuates the engraved lines, that represent tattooing. The engraved lines is evidence that the Mississippian people probably used tattooing for body decoration. This vessel also has perforated ears, which is an indication that they may also have used body piercing for decoration.

    Head pots were made into many different shapes and designs. Mills divides them into two basic classifications, Type-A and Type-B. Type-A are vessel forms that have human facial features added to the surface. Type B are vessels that were made in the shape of a human head. Mills describes three sub-types within the Type-A group. Sub-type 1 have long necks, annular bases and facial features in low relief. Sub-type 2 have short necks, modeled faces and they may have faces on the front and back (Janus form). Sub-type 3 are globular in form, they have a small opening, a flaring lip and modeled base. Mills does not describe a sub-type for Type-B vessels.

Human head vessel.
PHOTO CREDIT--BILL FECHT,
HUMAN HEAD EFFIGY VESSEL
LATE MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
ARKANSAS OR MISSOURI
ST. LOUIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE COLLECTION

   This gray ware "head pot" has a longer neck which classifies it within the Type-A group of styles. There doesn't seem to be any paint on this vessel. Seven or eight holes were drilled for the pierced ears. There are also lines that delineate where the hair would be and very well done facial features. 

    "Head pots" range in size from 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm) high. The majority of them are between 6 inches (15.2 cm) and 8 inches (23 cm) high.

Late Mississippian Human head vessel.
HUMAN HEAD EFFIGY VESSEL
LATE MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
ARKANSAS OR MISSOURI
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   The picture of this "head pot" was taken through a glass case where it lay with several discoidals (game stones). This is another "classic" example of a Type-B "head pot." Notice the red paint where the hair would be and the pierced ears and nose. The face shows expressive features of death. The eyes are closed and the lips are drawn up with the teeth exposed.

    Mills's survey of head vases lists the Arkansas Counties of Mississippi, Cross and Crittenden and the Missouri Counties of Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid as the central distribution area for "head pots." Forty four of the 63 examples he recorded came from within a hundred mile radius of this area. All of the "head pots" in his study, except for two examples, were found within a 200 mile radius.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE THREE

"REFERENCES"

1903, Holmes, W. H.,  "Aboriginal Pottery of the Eastern United States," "20th Annual Report, Bureau of American Ethnology," pp. 96-98.
1911, Moore, Clarence B., "Some Aboriginal Sites on Mississippi River," p. 469.
1968, Mills, Lawrence, "Mississippian Head Vases of Arkansas and Missouri," "The Missouri Archaeologist," Vol. 30, p. 1.
1976, Hathcock, Roy, "Ancient Indian Pottery of the Mississippi River Valley," p. 2.
1983, Morse, Dan F. & Morse, Phyllis A.,  "Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley," p. 280.
1985, Brose, David, S., Brown, James A., Penny, David, W., "Ancient Art of the American Woodland Indians," pp. 108 & 177.
1998, O'Brien, Michael J., Wood, Raymond W., "The Prehistory of Missouri," pp. 306-308 &  336-337.

HOME    ORDERING