Photo of Spiro pot

[jmoffett]

I am posting a photo of a pot that was given to me by my grandmother several years ago. Her story goes as follows:

She grew up in the Braden bottoms of the Arkansas River, near Spiro Mounds. She was born in 1923, and when she was "about 10 years old" she and her siblings were playing at the mound site that had just begun to be excavated. They were playing with items that had been left in the dirt, and when a man came and ran them off, she grabbed this pot as she ran away. She has had it all of these years and gave it to me for Christmas about 10 years ago. I went to the mounds one time to see if there was anything similar and was disappointed to see nothing on display that resembles this pot. Then my wife and I sat down for the slide show and there was only one slide shown during the entire show that had a very similar piece, enough that when it appeared on the screen we both looked at each other instantly. With the exception of a very small chip on the mouth of the pot (at about 10 o'clock in this photo) it is in perfect condition. I would appreciate any feedback/thoughts on this item, and although I would never consider selling it, a value might be helpful to make sure I have it adequately insured. Thanks.

 

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[ctalmadg]

That almost resembles Fremont pottery.

The date your grandmother said she found the pot conicides with some of the major excavation done on the mounds.

In 1933 commercial diggers calling themselves the Pocola Mining Company acquired the lease for the Craig Mound. From 1933 until 1935 Pocola employees dug haphazardly into the burial mound. During two years, the commercial diggers destroyed about one-third of the mound and sold thousands of artifacts, made of stone, copper, shell, basketry, and fabric, to collectors throughout the world. Dubbed the "King Tut of the Arkansas Valley" by the Kansas City Star in 1935, the site yielded artifacts in greater numbers, in better preservation, and showing more elaborate, artistic, sophisticated decoration than any other Mississippian site. Continuing destruction convinced the Oklahoma Legislature to pass a licensing requirement for the protection of the site, and in November 1935 the Pocola Mining Company was finally shut down.
In 1936 the University of Oklahoma (OU) began scientific excavation of what remained of the burial mound. From June 1936 until October 1941 University of Oklahoma archaeologists oversaw Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers in systematically investigating the Spiro Mounds site. From the Craig Mound more than six hundred complete or partial burials were recovered along with thousands of artifacts. The OU and WPA crews also worked on the other eight mounds recognized at the time. All of these structural mounds were researched, although they still have some portions intact. In 1941 the University of Oklahoma ended excavations because of World War II and the demise of the WPA.


You should send the pic to Lois Albert at the University of Oklahoma archaeology Dept.
[email protected]


Good Luck!

 

[Atlantis0077]

Howdy,

That is a pretty pot. I wish I could look at it in person to see they type of clay, firing etc. Personally I have never seen a native American pot with that type of markings...looks like leaves painted around the surface. There are painted pottery vessels of all types from the western Indians, and even southeastern Indians painted pottery...normally white black or red....though some of the caddo vessels show the green "death" pigmentation. Is it possible that the markings were added at a later date to decorate a "plain" pot? Other than that I cannot say....the appearance is right shape etc, just the painted leaves throwing me. I suppose its possible, I just have never personally seen anything like it. A great piece and a interesting story behind it. I know you treasure it.

Atlantis

 

[Snee]

The Arkansas River, huh? What tribe used to live in that area? I'm no expert and the only mounds I have ever been to would be the Cohokia Mounds in or around East St. Louis. They were the Illini indians I think...not sure. I haven't been there in years!

 

[Monty]

There are thousands of mounds all over Oklahoma, along the Arkansas River and elsewhere. There is even a town named Mounds....guess why? At one time people would go and dig in them , lots of times just for the hell of it, but now they are all protected as native burial grounds. Many of the artifacts, remains, etc that were once on display in various museums have had to be returned to the Native Americans for reburial. The courts consider digging one of these mounds no differnt than if someone went into a cemetary and dug up your grandfather. I'm sure there is still a lot of digging going on and no doubt a black market for these artifacts. It's a serious offense if you get caught doing it however. Monty