Audio
“Enduring Symbols,” Mangum Mound, Milepost 45
Transcript
This exhibit, titled “Enduring Symbols,” faces Mangum Mound. An illustration shows a male American Indian artisan creating a ceremonial copper object. The meaning, beautiful detail, and expert craftsmanship of objects like the one he is crafting continue to inspire artisans today. At the bottom of this panel there is a timeline that shows the age of Indian mounds along Natchez Trace Parkway. You are behind a split rail fence. The mound in front of you is covered with native grasses. It slopes upward to a height of 11 feet on the right. The winding entry road to the cul de sac and parking behind you passed agricultural fields and curves under the Parkway. [Text]
The history of Mangum Mound illustrates how symbols common to many sacred sites continue to inspire artists today. During the Mississippian period, when native peoples transformed this natural hillside into a sacred mound, artisans throughout the region adorned ceremonial objects with both realistic and abstract images. Snakes, eyes, and birds became symbols of spiritual beliefs. Modern Choctaw artists continue to blend traditional materials with ancient designs. In fabric, pottery, shells, and copper, centuries-old culture not only survives, it flourishes. The artisan in the illustration kneels next to a fire contained by round rocks. He holds a wooden pole attached to a ceremonial object that glows orange. The object is a large copper birdman figure roughly the size of a person’s face. The artisan wears a loincloth. He has tattoos—lines and elongated triangles—on his legs, arms, and shoulders. He wears a copper spool in his earlobe, a necklace, and bracelets. The sides of his head are shaved leaving just a circular cap of hair tied up. A log and bone tools sit next to the fire. A small photo on the panel shows a carved winged birdman statue created by a contemporary Choctaw artist. The heroic, winged birdman appears on objects associated with Mangum Mound and contemporary Choctaw art. The timeline at the bottom of the panel begins on the left with the Middle Woodland Period, 200 BCE (before common era). It ends on the right with the Late Mississippian Period, 1600 CE (common era).
Mangum Mound dates to 950 CE. Mangum and Emerald mounds, began around 1250 CE, and remained active into the 1600s. Along with Bear Creek Mound, they date to the Mississippian Period.
Bynum Mounds are the oldest on the timeline; they date to 100 BCE. Construction of Pharr Mounds began around 0 CE, Boyd Mound around 800 CE. A “Protect Sacred Sites” logo of an American Indian mound is to the right of the timeline.
The exhibit panel has a black band across the top. The band contains the National Park Service arrowhead on the right and the words National Park Service and U.S. Department of the Interior. On the left, the band contains the words Natchez Trace Parkway.
Description
This exhibit, titled “Enduring Symbols,” faces Mangum Mound. An illustration shows a male American Indian artisan creating a ceremonial copper object. The meaning, beautiful detail, and expert craftsmanship of objects like the one he is crafting continue to inspire artisans today.
Duration
3 minutes, 37 seconds
Credit
NPS
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