Vessel c. 1300 - 1600

This "Vessel" was created by an unknown artist of the Mississippian culture. The Mississippian people flourished in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 to 1600 AD. The vessel’s swirling, engraved lines could allude to the importance of water or the cosmos within Mississippian cosmology. The vessel is significant not only for its aesthetic qualities but also for what it reveals about the social conditions of its time. The Mississippian culture was characterized by hierarchical societies, agricultural economies, and extensive trade networks. Objects like this vessel were used in religious ceremonies, feasts, or as grave goods. Understanding the full significance of this vessel requires interdisciplinary research. Archaeological reports, ethnohistorical accounts, and studies of Mississippian material culture can provide valuable insights into the social and cultural context in which it was created. Art history helps us to appreciate the ingenuity and skill of the Mississippian artist who created it.