Sunday May 31, 2009, 8:24 am
HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

FOR RELEASE: Monday, June 01, 2009
Decades of Research on Native American Headpots Fill New Book from University of Arkansas Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In 1981, James F. Cherry began a quest to find any and every existing Native American headpot, a rare and mysterious pottery formed in the shape of a human head, from the Mississippian Indian Culture. The quest took him to museums throughout the country, including the Smithsonian, the Gilcrease in Tulsa and the Museum of Natural History in New York. He researched the collections at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Tennessee and Southern Illinois University, made use of the University of Arkansas Museum, and studied many private collections. For over 25 years, he followed up on any headpot lead that presented itself.

Though the headpots are now scattered all over the country, they were originally found almost exclusively in a small region of Arkansas and Missouri. Cherry’s new book, The Headpots of Northeast Arkansas and Southern Pemiscot County, Missouri (cloth, $59.95), gathers all known headpots together in a comprehensive catalog of these vessels.

Relatively little is known about headpots, which were produced by two groups the Spanish called the Casqui and Pacaha and dating circa AD 1400-1700. Many questions remain regarding whether they portrayed kinsmen or enemies, the living or dead, and if they were used in ceremonies, in daily life, or exclusively for the sepulcher.

Cherry, an avocational archaeologist and retired physician, thanks his wife and children in the dedication of his book for “enduring many hours of patiently waiting in numerous museums.” All these years later, the resulting book, which includes over 800 color photographs, is the result of Cherry’s obvious diligence and love of the subject. According to F. Kent Reilly, an archaeologist at Texas State University, “This splendid new volume makes not only an important contribution to the art history and archaeology of ancient native American cultures in eastern North America but provides archaeologists, art historians, museum professionals and general researchers with a full catalog of this specific ceramic genre.” Reilly continues, “I am certain this book will remain seminal to the field for many years to come.”

Jeffrey M. Mitchem of the Arkansas Archeological Survey is also highly impressed with the book and the obvious dedication behind it, calling it “a monumental work, absolutely essential for researchers working in the Mississippi Valley and beyond.”

Headpots provides a number of special features, including a Foreword by Robert C. Mainfort of the Arkansas Archeological Survey; an appendix of reproductions; drawings of hair patterns, eye surrounds, and facial patterns; several maps illustrating geographical distributions; a list of dates and finders of the headpots; and a bibliography, index and glossary. These special features, combined with the photos and supported by generous amounts of narrative describing the archaeological context and the story of each headpot, make Cherry’s new book the definitive source for understanding the complete range and variation of these artifacts.

Cherry will be appearing in the fall at the Arkansas Library Association meeting in Hot Springs and at the Parkin Archaeological State Park. Details on these two events and others will be announced at http://www.uapress.com at a later date.

Contact:

Melissa King, assistant marketing manager
University of Arkansas Press
479-575-7715, mak001@uark.edu

Sunday May 31, 2009, 9:30 am
I wouldn't mind having a copy of that book. Artifacts such as these are fascinating. A link to the human past. Especially Native American artifacts, because so little is known about them prior to the European invasion.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:11 am
Thank you Kat.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:23 am
Fascinating! Thanks Kat

Sunday May 31, 2009, 11:23 am
Kat, I have always been intrigued by Native American artifacts. When I was a boy I used to walk behind Dad plowing and pick up arrowheads. Really I had no idea what they were. Across the creek on my Granddads farm was a small mound. And so it seems I have carried this fasination with me my entire life. Thanks for post.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:24 pm
Great artifact and very informative, thanks Kat

Sunday May 31, 2009, 2:36 pm
Very interesting! Thanks Kat for sharing.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 3:33 pm
good news kat

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:20 pm
noted thank you kat

Sunday May 31, 2009, 4:20 pm
Interesting , thanks !!

Sunday May 31, 2009, 6:11 pm
Thanks Kat..I have always been interested in this..
Noted..

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:26 pm
Noted. This is very interesting, Kat. I'll forward to my daughter, who just received her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Native American Studies and Art, from University of NE at Omaha.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:30 pm
Beautiful pot. Thanks Kat, very interesting.

Sunday May 31, 2009, 10:42 pm
Very interesting, Kat. I'd never heard of headpots before. Had to stop and have a look.