History through material culture.
Use search bar to find objects by historic event, time period or culture
Weeden Island Effigy Vessel- McKeithen Site, FL
Two thirds of Weeden Island effigy vessels are decorated with bird effigies, mostly owls and ducks.
Bone Flutes- Fort Ancient Settlement, OH
Archaeologists examine prehistoric bone flutes to understand the connection between hole placement and sound.
Poverty Point Objects- Poverty Point, LA
These objects are called Poverty Point Objects (or “PPO’s”) because thousands were found at the archaeological site, but no one is certain of their function.
Cacao Vessels - Chaco Canyon, NM
As the Ancestral Puebloan culture grew in wealth, their drinking vessels became more varied and elaborate, with the most specialized and exclusive vessels belonging to the upper class.
Yucca Sandals – Canyon of the Ancients, CO
This sandal, woven from yucca fibers, was found at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument in southwestern Colorado. Between approximately 15000 BC and 1300 AD, the area was home to the Ancestral Puebloans.
Great Basin Sandals- Fort Rock Cave, OR
Fort Rock sandals are the oldest dated shoe type in the world. Over 100 pairs were found under a layer of ash caused by a volcanic eruption in 7400 BP.
Shell Gorget- Clark County, AR
Shell gorgets with the circle / cross motif appears around 1300 AD and were part of an interaction network across a 186-mile radius.
Great Basin Parching Tray- Connley Caves, OR
The parching tray is an example of Catlow Twine Basketry, in which the twine is spun and twisted in a Z-formation.
Cruciform- The Clearwater Site, AZ
Most cruciforms have one of two features in common: they were either broken and throw away or placed as grave goods in male burials.
Falcon Figurehead- Key Marco, FL
Mask performances were the cornerstone of Calusa culture beginning around 800 AD and continuing through the 17th century.
Archaic Donut Stones- San Diego, CA
Donut stones were large, perforated stones used as weights. In California, donut stones have been a lithic tradition since the Archaic period.