A pre-Columbian map of the Mississippi?

F. Terry Norris, Timothy R. Pauketat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A unique petroglyph panel in southeastern Missouri appears to be a cartographic depiction of the Mississippi River, a series of Middle Mississippian places, and, perhaps, social or political identities (ca. A.D. 1200-1400). The panel, part of the Commerce Quarry and Petroglyph site, sits adjacent to a millennia-old Mississippi River crossing on a prominent natural feature which also was a likely raw-material source for the production of quartzite chunkey stones. The Commerce map is the oldest known cartographic representation in eastern North America, marking a significant location in regional space and Mississippian cultural history.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)78-92
Number of pages15
JournalSoutheastern Archaeology
Volume27
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jun 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Archaeology

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