Conch Shell Effigy mask

This Conch Shell Effigy mask has lines carved around it and has what is called weeping eye lines carved around the eye holes. It was held by the tip and it is amazing how well you can see through the tiny holes. The lines in the mask were at one time painted red with iron oxide and animal fat. It was a ceremonial mask. These are rare since the shell deteriorates fairly fast when in the ground.

American Indian archeology has been divided into basically four time periods by archeologists – The Paleo Period – Prehistoric to 20,000 years BC – Archaic Period – 20,000 to 10,000 years BC – Woodland Period 10,000 BC to 1000 AD and the Mississippian Period – 1000 AD to 1600 AD

The Paleo period was primarily found in the American southwest because of the cold that existed over much of the north part of America at that time. The later Paleo and other periods spread across the entire continent.

The woodland period was when the Indians started growing crops and staying in one location instead of traveling and hunting all the time. Their stone work was of a much poorer quality but they started making pottery from clay. They tempered their pottery with sand so it didn’t last like the later period pottery did.

During the Mississippian period the American Indians began to come together into tribes from their former existence as extended family groups.