Abstract image of Etowah marble sculptures.

abstract
LARGE PAINTED MARBLE STATUES
ETOWAH INDIAN MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE

This article illustrates two examples of, Mississippian culture, human effigy painted stone statues. They were discovered during the excavation of Mound C on the Etowah Mounds State Historic Site in northwestern Georgia. These two marble figures represent some of the most skillfully crafted stone sculptures yet discovered in the southeastern United States.

    "The most prominent form of Mississippian stone work is free-standing effigy sculpture, usually human representations."---1982, Thomas E. Emerson, Mississippian Stone Images In Illinois, p. 2.
    "Statues like those found in Burial 15--the 2 marble statues illustrated here---are generally considered to be representations of chiefly ancestors, in some cases even representing the founders of chiefly lineages." ---2004, Adam King, "Hero, Hawk, And Open Hand," Power And The Sacred," p. 155.
    "Sculptures of the human form, or what might be termed self-portraiture, while not of abundant occurrence in the mound area, are of paramount interest and importance. To be able to see the Mound-builder as he saw himself is intriguing." -----1930, Henry Clyde Shetrone, "The Mound-Builders," p. 123-124.

ETOWAH MOUNDS SITE
HUMAN EFFIGY MARBLE STATUES
etowah INDIAN mounds state historic site

These two large human figures, carved in stone, were discovered during the excavation of Mound C, by Lewis Larson, on the Etowah Mounds site. The Etowah site is located in northwestern Georgia in Bartow County next to the Etowah River. The site is contained within 54.3 acres (22 hectares) and surrounded on three sides by a deep ditch or moat. The Etowah River forms the fourth side. There are six mounds on the site and three of them dominate the plaza area. The largest mounds are designated A, B and C. Mound A and B are platform temple mounds. Mound A is the major feature of the site and measures nearly 63 feet high. Mound C was a mortuary mound that was in use for more than one hundred years.

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PAINTED MARBLE STATUE, MALE FIGURE
ETOWAH MOUNDS SITE
MOUND C, BURIAL 15
A.D. 1250--1375
EARLY TO LATE WILBANKS PHASE

This free standing sculpture of a male human may represent an important ancestor figure or even a mythological being. It's one of the largest anciently carved stone sculptures ever discovered to date in North America. It was discovered during the excavation of mortuary Mound C, in burial number 15. This sculpture and the female figure pictured below were hurriedly buried sometime during the end of the Late Wilbanks phase. It's surface was decorated with three or more pigments. The ears were colored red with ochre and other parts of the head and face were colored with both red ochre and carbon black. A portion of the chest area is covered with a heavy incrusted residue of a dark green material that appears to be copper. This figure was made of marble from the north Georgia area and it measures 24 inches (61cm) high.

The two painted marble statues illustrated in this article were in use sometime between A.D. 1250 and 1375. These mortuary offerings were discovered in Mound C and within burial number 15, along with other grave goods. The scattered bones of four individuals were also found with the statues. They appear to have been hurriedly buried sometime toward the end of the Wilbanks phase just before the site was abandoned for the second time. The statues were found as Lewis Larson described them "jumbled one on top of the other." They were also found damaged. The male figure had one arm broken off.

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PAINTED MARBLE STATUE, FEMALE FIGURE
ETOWAH MOUNDS SITE
MOUND C, BURIAL 15
A.D. 1250--1375
EARLY TO LATE WILBANKS PHASE

This stone carved human figure of a female was found in mortuary Mound C by Lewis Larson, along with the one pictured above. It's carved in a seated position, with legs folded underneath. The craftsman also detailed the figure with a belt, skirt and headdress. Several pigments were added to the surface to enhance the head and facial features and indicate articles of clothing. The ears, lips and part of the headdress were painted with red ochre and carbon black. A portion of the chest area is also covered with a heavy incrusted residue of a dark green material that appears to be copper. This statue was carved out of marble from the north Georgia area. It measures 22 inches (55.9cm) high.

At least two other stone human form sculptures were found in and near Mound C. One, measuring 17.5 inches (43.8 cm) high, was found during the early excavations of Mound C in 1925. It is similar in design to the large male figure illustrated here. This one was found on the western side of the summit of the mound in a small stone box grave. Moorehead writes about the discovery "The image was somewhat damaged. Apparently, the Indians had assembled all fragments and placed them within this receptacle which was 2 feet long, about a foot in width, and 12 or 14 inches deep" (Moorehead 1979: 75). The other was a sculpture of a female measuring 15.75 inches (40 cm) high. This one was reported to have been found in a plowed field near one of the mounds.

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"REFERENCES"

1930, Shetrone, Henry Clyde, "The Mound - Builders," pp. 123-125.
1957, Fundaburk, Emma Lila & Foreman, Mary Douglass Fundaburk, "Sun Circles And Human Hands," p. 150.
1979, Moorehead, Warren King, Etowah Papers," p. 14, p. 15 & pp. 75-76.
1982, Emerson, Thomas E., "Mississippian Stone Images In Illinois," p. 2.
1983, Folsom, Franklin and Mary, "America's Ancient Treasures," pp. 224-226.
2004, Townsend, Richard, " Hero, Hawk, And Open Hand," King, Adam, "Power And The Sacred: Mound C And The Etowah Chiefdom," pp. 154-155.

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