Ancient trade-routes
local(ish) textile history or the Onward March to Civilization
When my family travels, we tend to look for history. We have stopped at more battlefields and stately homes than I can remember. In the years since we began driving east for my residency (see previous post), we took up visiting Ancient Mounds. Now, every trip is routed in such a way that allows for a stop at one of these sacred sites.
If you grew up in Texas, you are probably aware of Caddo Mounds, unexpected conical landforms in a creek bed, which yielded pot shards and bits of flint, and ghost stories. There are also many huge metropolises of Ancient Mounds along major American rivers.
I love walking out among the softly slumping hillocks that once were burials or ceremonial gathering sites, places that were saved only after being pillaged by local pot hunters. I especially relish poking around in the Visitor’s Center to see the artifacts (replicas and originals). We have stopped to explore Mississippian sites (800-1300CE) as well as Hopewell sites (100BCE- 500CE).
Commonly found (and mislabeled as decorations) are disks of clay, stone, shell, coal (or other materials) which have a central hole. I am certain that these would have been used as spindle whorls or loom weights.
I was especially interested in seeing Spiro Mounds in Oklahoma, mainly because of the recent exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. The beads and bead-like objects really caught my attention. Even more interesting, to me, was the amount of textiles found in this particular site.
The Archaeologist at Spiro Mounds in Oklahoma confirmed my theory. He said that many clay whorls had a drilled hole- the disk was not fired with a hole in it (or if it was, someone drilled it out afterwards) obviously to make it fit better on a favorite spindle. He also confirmed that the fibers which would have been spun were: rabbit, buffalo, feathers, cane and various tree barks. What really got my attention was the image of a fragment of bobbin lace! I was told that Spiro was a rich source for ancient textiles and that many Native artisans have been commissioned to make replicas.
Experimental Archeology! My favorite.
What fun stuff did you get to see this summer?
Here are some whorls from the Slave Quarters at bulow Plantation; 1821 to 1836. My friend teaches his archaeological field school there. I hope to get a working sample made for him.
Once I figure out how to add pictures.