POTTERY

Archaeologists know how the Indians lived by uncovering their artifacts. The Early Woodland people were hunters and plant and seed collectors.

Middle Woodland: Art of the Hopewell and Havanna Culture

The Hopewell Indians' art was made by both men and women. They carved in both stone and wood. Some other popular materials were copper, mica, pearls, pipe stone, rock, and teeth of animals.
The Hopewell Indians made lots of smoking pipes. They were carved out of pipe stone and were usually made into animals or people figures. Some were pretty plain but some were fancy. Their jewelry was very beautiful. Some necklaces were made of shells, copper beads, and freshwater pearls. The Hopewell also made ornaments of copper and bone. 
The Hopewell pottery was made with decorative marks that may have been used for special occasions. Havana pottery was very plain. Havana pottery was probably used every day instead of for special occasions. 
Figures carved of the Hopewell time were made nicely too. Some were made out of clay. Most of the best carvings were found in the Hopewell mounds.
Hopewell artifacts have been uncovered in the Rockford Valley. At the Sinnissippi Park Indian Mounds in Sterling there are 22 mounds in a pattern made by the Hopewell people.

Late Woodland

Some Late Woodland Pottery had no decoration or very little decoration. One thing that was neat about the pottery is that the Indians would press different designs into the pottery. They would also polish and paint the pottery. Some of the common tempers found in Illinois are grit (small pieces of rock), burned clay, crushed pottery fragments, and shell fragments. Temper is an added material that you put into clay if it becomes too sticky. Clay alone cracks and can fall apart into pieces very easily.

An example of Late Woodland pottery is Raymond pottery. Raymond bowls were straight sided with round bottoms. Raymond pottery was named after some people who found pottery on their farm. They wrapped cord around a paddle and pressed it against the pottery because they thought it would give it a grip or it would make it thinner. Prehistoric pottery was made with clay mixtures. The Indians would have to shape the pottery and fire it to harden it.

Mississippian Pottery

The Mississippian pottery, such as Dillinger, has cord markings on the rim of the pottery. Dillinger bowls are globular shaped. Dillinger pottery was named after some people who found pottery on their farm. They dug up clay from the river bank and mixed it together with mussel shells. Lugs were probably used for hanging the pots over the fire or off the ground to keep animals from getting the food inside. Some lugs were made in the shape of an animal's head.