ANP 264
Bonus Discussion Post
Angel Mounds of Indiana

Why It Was Interesting
The location, name, and history of the Angel Mounds archaeological site drew me to delve into its relevance and importance. The Midwest is not at the top of the list for having renowned archaeological sites, so it was interesting to learn this site is in Indiana. The name itself suggests that it is a pleasant place or had spiritual significance to the Mississippian culture, one that has been previously discussed in depth during our class this semester.
The Site & Its Importance
Excavations of the site were first conducted in the late 1930s by Glenn A. Black who continued to work on the site and its archaeology throughout the rest of his career, which ended in 1964 (Krus 2013, 149). Since then, many others have studied the geology, chronology, chemistry, and more related to the site (150).
A thatch sample taken from one of the structures at Angel Mounds dates back to as early as 900 B.P. or around 1032-1050 A.D., making it one of the earliest recorded mounds for the Middle Mississippian era (Monoghan 2013,155, 164). There are eleven mounds in total at the site with some containing multiple platforms around one or two meters tall. Some of these platforms were also built on top of existing structures and platforms hundreds of years after their initial construction which essentially buried them underneath the ground resulting in various chambers. This not only shows a direct architectural development but also the level of organization these people had to create underground chambers and connected chambers aboveground within those structures (Monoghan 2013, 155-6,164). Variations of the timing in the construction of the mounds were also found. Mound A shows evidence of having been built in within one phase whereas others such as Mound F seem to have been built or added upon over a longer number of years (168). This pattern seems to also be consistent with the use of mounds where more usage implied more additions to the original mound.
There were also several intriguing discoveries in the mounds as well. One of them was a hearth (163) however its full purpose is unknown. The common thought is that it was ceremonial, but it may not have been as well. A figurine called the “Kneeling Man Figurine” is the most famous artifact of Angel Mounds. It is carved out of fluorite and kneels at 30 centimeters tall (164). What was interesting is that it was discovered standing perfectly upright 50 centimeters below ground. Considering the number of years that have passed since this part surprised me. This artifact is more strongly associated with ritual or spiritual purposes unlike the hearth.
Overall, this site is a good example of the importance of the Mississippians and their architectural and sculptural abilities that reflect their level of intelligence as an organized society.

Sources
Krus, Anthony M., Dru Evan McGill, and G. William Monaghan. “Introduction to the Angel Mounds Issue.” Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 38, no. 2 (July 2013): 149–53. https://doi.org/10.1179/mca.2013.004.
Monaghan, G. William, Timothy Schilling, Anthony M. Krus, and Christopher S. Peebles. “Mound Construction Chronology at Angel Mounds Episodic Mound Construction and Ceremonial Events.” Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 38, no. 2 (July 2013): 155–70. https://doi.org/10.1179/mca.2013.005.