S4 E3 Mississippian Burial Patterns
Mississippian civilization honored its dead by laying them to rest in pyramidal burial mounds. But why? What did it mean to them and where did they get the idea to do it? In this episode, we’ll discuss that tradition – including its origins and evolution.
SHOW NOTES:
This is a test. Is anyone even looking at these show notes? I know I’m supposed to post them, but I can’t tell if anyone even knows there here. Drop me a comment if you see this and you’ll be rewarded by a post leading to more info on the subject of Mississippian burial practices.
Here’s some extra for Bradley!
While researching for this episode, I found Rachel Metcalf’s honors thesis on the burials of Ocmulgee Mound C and obsessed over it. I stayed up late in my Oaxacan hotel room reading it. It’s really very insightful. Here’s a pdf of it:
Mark K’s interest in the show notes gets another good source to follow!
This one is for M. Ninos who looked at the show notes too! Its subject is very connected to my podcast episode, but I’m posting it as an example of the kind of scholarship that frustrates me. The author is so busy using big words to sound smart that the book is difficult to get through! There are some good points about Mississippian society here, but be prepared for a slog!
Ok, Susan gets a Show Note! This one is a brief follow up thought.
In my episode on Mississippian religion, I was struck by how often blankets did magical things – especially resurrection. In the Caddo tale, Wild Boy used a buffalo hide to bring his mother back to life. In the Red Horn tale, the twins brought him back to life under a blanket in the their family home. Grandmother threw a blanket over Red Horn and white Beaver Skin woman and they were instantly married – implying baby making too. How about when the twins asked their mom to sleep with Red Horn’s decapitated head? Is that somehow related? Are we looking at a symbolic birth-death-rebirth cycle?
Now look at the burial patterns I just discussed. Burial bundles wrap bones in a similar way to how Caddo Wild Boy put his mother’s bones in the buffalo hide. The pair in Cahokia Mound 72 are both wrapped in a beaded blanket together – like Red Horn and White Beaver Skin Woman? I’m just thinking out loud here, but its an idea worth pursuing.
For Brian D – one of my colleagues who I think has great insight into the pyramid mound builders of North America is William Romain. Here’s a link to his academia.edu page – 49 articles on many subjects directly related to the subject of this episodes, including some of the one’s he called me out for not reading 🙂
https://indiana.academia.edu/WilliamRomain
The Natchez wikipedia page has good detail and an image of du Pratz’s drawing of the funeral of Tattooed Serpent:
I saw your show note comment Dr. and I do look at your show notes.
Thanks Bradley! Ok, reference coming up!
I always read them, Ed!
Enjoyed the podcast once again. Looking forward to more of your shoot-from-the- hip theories. Always thought provoking. Thanks.
Mark
Thank you for providing the link to Rachel Metcalf’s honors thesis. This was my first read through information like this. I am amazed at how much can be deduced logically from these findings despite poor preservation of bones in the soil and confused recording of the primary data. I am also amazed that we have so much information for the site especially since a railroad line was built right through it. It is certainly helpful that the Smithsonian has applied modern techniques to the items in their collection. These studies help to put the Ancient Civilizations of North America into proper perspective. Thank you for taking your time in sourcing and including this information in this ArchaeoEd episode.
Thanks M Ninos – not only did you look at show notes, but you read something from them! I put more info on their as your prize. This is kinda fun!
Dr. Ed! These show notes are very helpful! Your breadth and depth of knowledge and passion for Mesoamerican has inspired my husband and I since we discovered your lecture series!
Thank yoU!
Thanks Susan! Ok, another note coming up for you!
Always a pleasure listening to your informative podcasts! I saw the show notes posted as well.
Hello Brian! Well ok, you win a new show note too! I’ll add it now.
Ed, I am still getting into podcasts, but I am definitely enjoying yours.
And, yes, I am always checking footnotes and bibliographies for more info, so I have certainly checked out some of your notes and plan to go back through and read more of them.
Thanks Jim! I’ll put a link to Wikipedia’s surprisingly thorough description of the Natchez. It has an image of Tattooed Serpent’s funeral in it.
Better late than never, but I really enjoy your Mississippian episodes. I’m actually using them as sources for my first podcast, which will be about Cahokia. Its hard to do these cultures justice, but I am really enjoying what you’re doing. Thanks for everything you’re doing!
Thanks Josh! I’ll look for your podcast and give it a listen.
Hi Ed.
I recently found your podcast, but better late than never. I wanted to thank you for the podcast and all your Great Courses /Wondrium lectures. I love the show notes and ideas for further reading, too. I hope you keep putting these things out in the world. Thank you very much.
I’m a late comer. I just finished your three courses on Great Courses. Obviously I read all of your notes. I like your style!