IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
ARTIFACTS AS ART WHAT IS AN EFFIGY POT? COMPARISON AND CONTRAST THE SPIRO MOUND GROUP THE BLUFF SHELTERS A CARNEGIE GRANT & COB CAVE OTHER BLUFF SHELTER SITES SALVAGE ARCHEOLOGY ARTIFACTS FROM OTHER SITES
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Artist rendering of Spiro conch shell engraving TL2006.003.07
University Museum Collections, University of Arkansas The Spiro Mound Group
The Spiro Mound Group, located within the Arkansas River Valley in eastern Oklahoma, includes 11 constructed earthen mounds developed between 850 and 1450 A.D. by the Caddoan-speaking leadership who participated in the Mississippian Culture. Today, the site is an archeological park managed by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Uncontrolled digging at the Spiro site began in the summer of 1933, but the actual mining of the site for relics began in November and continued for two years by six men calling themselves the “Pocola Mining Company.” These individuals leased the portion of the site containing a large burial mound, or the Craig Mound. They tunneled into the earthwork and set off a charge of dynamite upon termination of their lease. Professional excavations began soon thereafter, but much was already destroyed by the looters. The looting of the Spiro site is one of the greatest tragedies in the history of North American archeology. Many of the most remarkable artifacts were located within a small area known as the “Great Mortuary” beneath the tallest portion of the Craig Mound. Among these were several beautifully carved stone pipes, including the resting warrior figure known as Morningstar (formerly known as “Big Boy”); numerous large, engraved conch shells; large ceremonial stone maces and celts; a variety of embossed copper plates; thousands of shell and freshwater pearl beads; and well-preserved textiles and basketry. The excavators made little effort to save the latter, as they were less valuable to buyers. As stories of the finds at Spiro began to circulate, several archeologists visited the site. Dellinger was present during the looting of the “Great Mortuary” in the largest mound and actually witnessed some of the objects and human remains being carried out of a tunnel. He later purchased artifacts from the Spiro Mounds for the University of Arkansas Museum from a private collector. Although this purchase probably saved those artifacts for future generations to study, Dellinger was criticized for taking objects from another state after condemning out-of-state institutions who removed Arkansas antiquities. Next > The Bluff Shelters
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