Artifacts from the Craig Mound at Spiro, Oklahoma

Abstract

This monograph presents the historical context and detailed descriptions of a remarkable collection of more than 20,000 artifacts from the Craig Mound at the Spiro site in eastern Oklahoma. Spiro is one of the key sites known for the Mississippian Period (ad 900–1500) of the eastern United States. Aside from the cultural importance of the site in regional history, the artifacts from Spiro provide an almost unique glimpse into the ceremonial life and artistic innovations of a people who developed an important but poorly known cultural tradition. Between 1933 and 1936 the Spiro site was looted, and artifacts were sold and traded to many collectors. Subsequently, professional archaeological excavations were conducted, and those collections primarily reside at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian Spiro collection is under the care of the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History. The collection came to the Museum through 14 accessions between 1936 and 1986. The largest portion was acquired from Harry M. Trowbridge in 1958. Of particular note in the collection are marine shells engraved with a wide variety of human and animal images. The collection also includes pigments, basketry, clothing with dyed designs, pipes, weapons, ornaments, containers, and figurines made from several different materials. Many of the artifacts are made from raw materials that were acquired by the Spiro people through an extensive trade network extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and from the upper Midwest in the north to central Mexico in the south.