A Collection Of Head Jars.

[monsterrack]

This is a collection of head jars that are in the inventory of the Gilcrease museum, most came from Ar. and a few from Mo. I thought some of you would find them interesting. The 5th one is a bottle it's very rare.

 

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[Rookster]

Very interesting jars. Thanks.

 

[welsbury]

Very cool to see them together like that. Have before just seen one or two in a pic. I noticed a couple had "bumps" on their foreheads, First one second row and last one bottom row. Wonder what that represents?
Thanks for putting pics up.

 

[joshuaream]

Awesome pieces!

 

[joshuaream]

Very cool to see them together like that. Have before just seen one or two in a pic. I noticed a couple had "bumps" on their foreheads, First one second row and last one bottom row. Wonder what that represents?
Thanks for putting pics up.

The Spanish explorers noted that Native Americans practiced a lot of body modifications. Tattoos, intentional scarring, piercings, and even binding the head of newborns to alter the shape of the skull.

These head pots were likely made by just a few artists, and were likely high status individuals (rulers, chiefs, etc.) Older people could have had wrinkles, but I think it is likely that some had the latest and greatest decoration.

This picture is obviously the wrong ethnicity, but decorations like these are permanent markers of social status.

 

[welsbury]

The Spanish explorers noted that Native Americans practiced a lot of body modifications. Tattoos, intentional scarring, piercings, and even binding the head of newborns to alter the shape of the skull.

These head pots were likely made by just a few artists, and were likely high status individuals (rulers, chiefs, etc.) Older people could have had wrinkles, but I think it is likely that some had the latest and greatest decoration.

This picture is obviously the wrong ethnicity, but decorations like these are permanent markers of social status.

The one in upper right has an arrow on forehead that almost looks like a scar, but could easily have been paint

 

[sandchip]

Very nice display. Thanks for sharing those with us. Always wanted to visit that museum.

 

[RGINN]

Jars or jugs like that always looked to me like they represented dead people, and weren't meant to be reproductions of living people.

 

[justonemore]

Sweet! Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Anyone else find it odd that some is them have a strong Asian look to them. Slanted eyes and small facial features.

 

[RGINN]

That's what I noticed, Grim Reaper, but rather than Asian, that's how faces start to look in natural decomposition after death. I've seen a few in real life. Maybe a remembrance of those passed on, cause they could make very lifelike representations of people.

 

[roy2bears]

Is the gilcrease museum in tulsa ok.and is it possible some are from the Spiro mounds?

 

[joshuaream]

That's what I noticed, Grim Reaper, but rather than Asian, that's how faces start to look in natural decomposition after death. I've seen a few in real life. Maybe a remembrance of those passed on, cause they could make very lifelike representations of people.

Yes, good observation about the decomposed look to the eyes and mouth. If you google Maori Head you can see some very similar looking examples made from real human heads in New Zealand.

That can be made to happen, or it can happen if bodies are left in cold, dry, windy places (for example tree burials as practiced by many groups up river along the Missouri river.)

 

[Tony in SC]

Great stuff!! Were these excavated from mounds? I can't imagine just finding something like these just lying around. What would be the time period?

 

[monsterrack]

Some folks call these trophy head jars, depicting a decapitated head of an enemy.

 

[NCPeaches]

Some folks call these trophy head jars, depicting a decapitated head of an enemy.

That's interesting and kinda creepy lol

 

[lairmo]

Very cool. Is there any info as to where in AR and MO these are found? Mound areas?

 

[monsterrack]

Very cool. Is there any info as to where in AR and MO these are found? Mound areas?

I have a list of the counties in Ar. most came from Yell, Cross, Mississippi co. the ones from Mo. I think was Jefferson co. On the bottom of each pot it has a number that tells the site.