Engraved Conch Shell

Artist:Mississippian

Medium: Conch shell, pigment

Geograhical Locations:

• Spiro Mound, Oklahoma, United States

Dates:1200–1500 C.E.

Dimensions: Falcon warrior: 10 7/16 × 7 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (26.5 × 19.1 × 14 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Americas

Exhibitions:

• Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas
• Climate in Crisis: Environmental Change in the Indigenous Americas

Accession Number: 60.53.1

Image: 60.53.1_view01_PS11.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Engraved conch shell depicting bird-man with beaked mask and "speech scroll" coming from mouth. Engraved lines are painted with brown pigment. Streamer lines extend from head. Perforated spool in ear. The arms are extended with feathered wings hanging down. Feet are claws. Wears ankle band, necklace and belt. Such conch shells were used as cups to hold a drink made from yaupon leaves used as a purge during ceremonies.

Brooklyn Museum