The prehistoric people of the Southeastern United States produced some of the richest and most sophisticated Native art. Cultures we know as Mississippian, Caddo, Hopewell, Adena, and Poverty Point thrived in the eastern Woodlands and collected exotic materials from great distances to turn into elaborate works of art.
Author Susan C. Power, a professor of art at Marshall University in West Virginia, traces the development of this rich artistic tradition from its origins in the Archaic period some 6,000 years ago to the European conquest. We are introduced to an extraordinary assemblage of objects described and pictured, many in color, in this tome. Some of these pipes, figurines, ceramics, beads, and copper objects were clearly ceremonial in nature, others were probably functional. Of course, perishable items are rare, which skews our sample. The most complex works according to Power were linked to powerful leaders (mostly male) who wore bold ensembles consisting of symbolic colors, sacred media, and complex designs. Four large ceremonial centers are the focus of much of this art: Etowah in Georgia, Spiro in eastern Oklahoma, Cahokia near St. Louis, and Moundville in Alabama.
Early Art of the Southeastern Indians is a visual journey through time that demonstrates the exemplary abilities of master artists and craftsmen. Their remarkable achievements delight the senses and give us a brief glimpse into the symbolic world.
