POTTERY OF THE HOPEWELL TYPE FROM LOUISIANA 



By Frank M. Setzler 



Assistant Curator, Division of Archeology, United States Natioiuil Museum 



INTRODUCTION 



It is significant that pottery vessels similar to a type recognized 

 in the upper or northern Mississippi Valley as belonging to the 

 Hopewell Indian culture have been found in the east-central part 

 of Louisiana, near Marksville. This paper, which includes a de- 

 tailed description and a comparative study of the pottery from 

 Marksville, may offer a clue regarding the migration and develop- 

 ment oi the northern Hopewell culture.^ 



The pottery and associated artifacts herein described were ex- 

 cavated by the late Gerard Fowke during his archeological explora- 

 tions in the Red River VaUey of Louisiana, February to May, 1926 

 (figs. 1 and 6). No illustrations or detailed descriptions appear in 

 his final report,^ though in the preliminary report ^ a few specimens 

 were figured. 



Further evidence was obtained by Dr. John R. Swanton at the 

 Marksville works while making an ethnological reconnaissance in 

 Louisiana during July, 1930, In examining the unfinished trench 

 dug by Fowke * in Mound 4, portions of two decorated vessels were 

 recovered, and numerous potsherds similar to those found by Fowke, 

 which closely resemble the typical Hopewell decoration. 



Analyzing the restored vessels from Mounds 4 and 8, we find: 

 The vessel on Plate 1 can be considered typically Hopewell, V)ecaiise 

 of such features as the cross-hatched band and bisected cones just 

 beneath the rim ; the decoration consisting of smooth bands outlined 

 by incised grooves ; the roughened area outside the bands ; the con- 

 ventionalized eagles ; and the four lobes. 



1 For a detailed description of Hopewell characteristics, see Mills^ W. C, and Shet- 

 EONB, H. C, Exploration of Hopewell group. Certain mounds and village sites in Ohio, 

 vol. 4, pt. 4, pp. 297-305, 1926. — Shetrone, H. C, Culture problem in Ohio archeology. 

 Amer. Antiirop., new ser., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 144-172, 1920. — Siietkone. II. C, and 

 Greenman^ E. F., Explorations of the Seip group of prehistoric earthworks. Ohio 

 Arch, and Hist. Quart., vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 34.'^-509, 1931. — McKern, W. C, Wisconsin 

 variant of the Hopewell culture. Bull. I'ublic Mus. City of Milwauliee, vol. 10, no. 2, 

 pp. 228-241, 1931. 



= Fowke, G., Explorations in the Red River Valley In Louisiana. 44th Ann. Rep. Bur. 

 Amer. Ethnol., pp. 405-434, 1928. 



^ Fowke, G., Archeological work in Louisiana. Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 78, no. 7, 

 pp. 254-259, 1927. 



< Fowke, G., 44th Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethnol., p. 421, pi. 68, h, 1928. 



No. 2963.— Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 82, Art. 22 



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