Spiro
Located in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, Spiro is one of America’s most important, but little known, ancient cultural and religious centers. Containing twelve mounds and a population of several thousand, it was physically unremarkable when compared to many other North American Mississippian sites. It is not the largest center ever discovered, nor did it have the biggest population. It also was not palisaded, as were the ceremonial centers of Cahokia, Moundville, and Etowah. What makes Spiro truly unique, however, is that it contained the largest assemblage of engraved, embossed, and carved objects of any presently known Mississippian site. In fact, according to James A. Brown, 90 percent of all known engraved shell and ritual artifacts come from this single site, specifically Craig Mound. The quality, quantity, and variety of works found at Spiro are staggering. Thousands of objects, created in various mediums, bear images of people, deities, deity impersonators, familiar animals, and mysterious composite creatures. They also depict events in complex pictorial narratives. Like the other regional centers, Spiro had a distinct artistic style, known as Craig. Although other regional styles, such as those found at or near Moundville, Etowah, and the Tennessee Cumberland area, are found at Spiro, the Craig style appears to be unique to this region and is likely Caddoan in origin. In fact, one specific subgrouping identified as Craig C is found only at Spiro.
Engraved shell pendant
Beaded necklace
Engraved shell pendant
Earspool with bird motif
Earspool
Earspool
Engraved shell cup
Williams plain jar
T-shaped pipe
Assorted shell and other artifacts
Wooden mask from Spiro
Wooden plate with copper overlay
Spiro ceramic
Engraved shell cup
Spiro ceramic
Human effigy
Other-Than-Human-Person pipe
Engraved shell cup
Human face effigy mask
Effigy pipe of seated male figure
Ceremonial mace
Earthmother effigy pipe
Woodpecker effigy axe
Conquering warrior effigy pipe
Blade
Turtle effigy bowl
Warrior effigy pipe
Earspools
T-shaped pipe
Engraved shell cup with human face on the shell of turtles
Textile fragment
Other-Than-Human-Person effigy pipe
Monolithic axe
Crown-form mace
Crown-form mace
Monolithic axe
Double bowl T-shaped pipe
COPPER PENDANT WITH BASKETRY FRAGMENTS
Crested bird gorget
Long-handled spatulate celt
Bird effigy earspool
Eight-point star motif earspools
Earspool
Earspool with cross motif
Fragment of engraved shell cup with image of Underwater Panther
Engraved shell of figure with tattoos and earspools
Human face effigy with deer antlers
Engraved shell bead
Human effigy mask
Engraved shell cup with depiction of Birdman
Human head effigy plate
Raptor effigy earspools
Repoussé plaque depicting human head with long-nosed ear ornaments
Long-nosed maskette ear ornaments
Engraved shell cup with long-nosed maskette on floating head
Tribute point
Grouping of Tribute points
Crystal owl and feline boatstone effigy
Crystal effigy boatstone of sphinx moth pupa
Crystal
Crystal points
Assorted point types from Spiro
Engraved shell cup
Mineral Springs knife
Florence chert Kay knife
Florence chert Kay knife
Engraved shell cup
Engraved gorget with two dancing figures surrounding a pole
Engraved shell cup with long-nosed-god maskette on floating head
Engraved shell cup with two supernatural figures with snake extremities dancing above a coiled snake
Craig style
Engraved shell with four winged serpents surrounding a cross-in-circle motif
Craig style
Engraved shell cup with underwater serpents
