РефератыИностранный языкInIndian Temple Mound Essay Research Paper Dr

Indian Temple Mound Essay Research Paper Dr

Indian Temple Mound Essay, Research Paper


Dr. Julia Sublette


ARH2050


January 23, 2001


Indian Temple Mound


In the heart of downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida lies a magnificent hill of earth


created by prehistoric Native Americans as a political and religious center. Built about 1,400


AD, this structure of earth is known today as The Indian Temple Mound. This temple mound


represents one of the most outstanding artifacts left by the early inhabitants of the area. Not only


is it thought to be the largest mound located on saltwater, but also it could possibly be one of the


largest prehistoric earthworks on the Gulf Coast. Many events that took place so long ago in the


past have been discovered due to the objects found in this mound. In 1961, The Indian Temple


Mound Museum was built. This museum was the first municipally owned museum in the State


of Florida. Today the museum has a two-dollar charge to enter, yet it has become one of leading


recreational factors in which draws people from around the world to the area of Fort Walton


Beach, Florida. The museum houses interpretive exhibits depicting 10,000 years of Native


American occupation. Over 6,000 artifacts of bone, stone, clay, and shell are found within this


museum, as well as the largest collection of Fort Walton Period ceramics in the Southeastern


United States. Although every artifact present in The Indian Temple Mound Museum offers


clear evidence of cultural sophistication and artistic skill, the more interesting artifacts I


encountered were the Ware Human Effigy Urn, the Buck Burial Mound Urn, and the Pump Drill.


In 1971, the Ware family found pieces of a clay vessel at a small mound, possibly a


domiciliary or a house mound, about four miles west of The Indian Temple Mound Museum.


The pieces were made of light brown to tan colored clay, coiled into a rough shape with features


molded on the outside. When the clay fragments were carefully placed together, an Effigy


(made to look like) of a human male was formed. Although it is unknown, the figure was


probably made to resemble a specific individual. Like a portrait, this figure shows details of


clothing and decoration. The hair is worn pulled back and a decorative band resembling a crown


surrounds the head. The eyes are closed, suggesting a man already dead. The ears contain a set


of decorative earrings that dangle. The body is naked, but bracelets can be seen on the wrists and


a lip ornament is worn in the pierced bottom lip. The use of this bowl is still unknown today. It


would seem to have been a jar for holding liquid in a ritual situation, yet the back has two


pierced holes as if the figure was made to be suspended. Perhaps it was secured to a support for


display. Maybe one day in the future, the mystery use of this item will be revealed.


The Buck Burial Mound Urn is one of the more unique

artifacts made by the Prehistoric


People. Found at a cemetery mound of the Woodland Time Period, this urn is thought to have


held the cremated remains of an important individual. The urn is colored in black, white, and


red- colors of the earth and sacred to the Prehistoric People who made this vessel. Unlike many


other vessels, this was made from clay using two methods. The body was created using coils of


clay placed atop one another. The legs were made of slabs molded from the outside leaving the


center of the legs square. The head has a topknot hairstyle and ears which are pierced. The face


is blackened to resemble a ritual mask, while the body is covered by a red and white design


which is thought to resemble a feathered cape. The figure has clearly human hands and feet, but


it also has two projections much like stumps. These are thought to represent a two legged stool.


The coloring and style suggest a cultural contact with Central or South America, but this artifact


is most closely related to the Mississippi River Valley regions.


An ancient handy tool used for cutting holes into wood, stone, bone, leather, shell,


and clay is called the pump drill. This drill is not an Indian invention, however it was brought to


the Indians by the Spanish when they arrived in the New World. The pump drill is unique from


other drills in that it cuts with speed, not pressure. The pump drill is made from only three parts.


The first part is a drill shaft. This is a stick on which a string twists and is tipped with a drill bit.


The second part is a fly wheel. This provides momentum after each downward thrust. The last


part is a bow. This changes vertical action into rotary action. One advantage of the pump drill


over other drilling methods is that it could be operated with one hand. This allowed the other


hand to hold the material being drilled. Although the pump drill is an ancient handy tool, it is


still used today for jewelry making, boat building, and many other jobs. It is the only method of


drilling available in places where electricity is not common or reliable.


Visiting the Indian Temple Mound Museum was truly a great experience. Each exhibit


displayed artifacts which reflected the technological, spiritual, and artistic achievements of the


Native Indians. The Indian Temple Mound Museum not only educated me on the Prehistoric


People, but also created an awareness of a time that has gone by. The Ware Human Effigy Urn,


the Buck Burial Mound Urn, and the Pump Drill are only three of over 10,000 artifacts on


display at the museum, most of which were found within a 40-mile radius of the mound. This


museum houses one of the finest collections of Southeastern Ceremonial art made by prehistoric


people. I would recommend others to visit The Indian Temple Mound Museum. Because of its


collection, it can speak about people who can no longer speak for themselves.

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