Weeden Island Effigy Vessel- McKeithen Site, FL
Photo by Florida Museum / Kristen Grace
Institution: Ceramic Technology Lab, Florida Museum of Natural History
State: Florida
Object: Pot
Era: Woodland Period
The McKeithen site has three mounds labeled A, B and C. Based on archaeological evidence, each mound served a different purpose for processing the dead. Mound A temporarily stored remains, while Mound B functioned as the ceremonial center or living quarters for the priest. Mound C served as the permanent burial space where remains were neatly organized, burned and adorned with ceremonial pottery.
Archaeologists recovered this ceremonial vessel from Mound C. Researchers use the term “adorno” to describe decorative technique of adding molded figurines to a clay pot. Some adornos have functional purposes like handles or spouts, but others, like this one, are purely decorative. The term “effigy”, however, describes what adornos represent. Two thirds of adornos symbolize local birds, mostly owls and ducks. In this case, two of the adornos depict a bear and a spoonbill or turkey vulture.
Since the vessel was recovered from Mound C, we can assume that it was part of a burial or related ceremony. The hole at the bottom also indicates that the vessel contained a substance before being “released”. It is unclear if these animals were significant to a particular individual, their religious worldview or just artistic interpretations of their surroundings.
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