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Stolen Pottery Vessels from Moundville

We are here posting illustrations and descriptions of a large collection of pottery vessels stolen from Moundville Archaeological Park. Our hope is that someone will recognize these pots, and that they will be returned.

A very large number of pottery vessels, 264 in all, were stolen during a 1980 break-in at the Erskine Ramsay Archaeological Repository at Moundville. The vessels, missing ever since, include many of the highest-quality specimens ever excavated at Moundville. Despite an investigation by the F.B.I. and publication of notices in the Journal of Field Archaeology, none of the artifacts have been recovered to date.

This was certainly one of the most significant antiquities thefts ever to occur in the southern states. The magnitude of the theft has left an alarming gap in Alabama's Native American heritage. These pots were one-fifth of the entire Moundville vessel collection curated by the Alabama Museum of Natural History. More than that, the thieves high-graded the collection, stealing approximately 70 percent of the exhibit-quality specimens as opposed to the less fancy items.

With the availability of the internet it is now possible to distribute these photographs much more widely than was previously feasible. Also, Native American pottery vessels are now routinely sold in internet auctions. These can be monitored by a public aware of this 20-year old crime and the great need to reunite these rare artifacts with the citizens of Alabama and the South.

If you have information as to the whereabouts of stolen vessels, please contact
Dr. Vernon James Knight at 205-348-5947 or vknight@tenhoor.as.ua.edu or
The Office of Archaeological Research at 205-371-2266.
Anonymous Tip Line - 205-371-8721

Click the gallery links below to see artifact images.

  
 
 
 
Catalog No.
Type
Vessel shape
< I >RHO 163 Moundville Incised, variety Moundville Standard jar with 2 handles
< I >W 50 Moundville Egraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with pedestal base
AdB 34 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Colored bottle with carafe neck
B 1 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Subglobular bottle with simple base
B 2 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
B 3 Barton Incised, variety unspecified Simple bowl
D 1 Bell Plain, variety Hale (red on white) Short-neck bowl
EC 1 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Simple bowl, alligator effigy features
EE 100 no information Bowl with pedestal, incisions
EE 104 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Cylindrical bowl with single lug
EE 112 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with widely spaced nodes
EE 12 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Narrow-neck bottle
EE 124 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 4 handles
EE 125 Bell Plain, variety Hale (red on white) Short-neck bowl
EE 130 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 132 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
EE 133 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 136 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 137 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 166 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (paired tails) Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 18 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
EE 180 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 182 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (hand and eye) Cylindrical bowl with single lug
EE 188 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 2 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
EE 204 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with slab base
EE 22 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 25 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 277 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
EE 278 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Standard jar with 2 handles
EE 307 unclassified plain (untempered) Bowl (miniature)
EE 343 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (scalp) Subglobular bottle with slab base
EE 383 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 385 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with slab base
EE 387 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
EE 391 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (windmill) Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 393 no information Sherds
EE 429 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 43 no information Mbf bottle engraved
EE 444 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl
EE 445 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 475 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl with effigy features (beaver)
EE 495 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with effigy (frogs)
EE 6 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 67 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Restricted bowl with frog effigy
EE 7 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (radial fingers) Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 77 Bell Plain, variety Hale Deep flaring-rim bowl
EE 80 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 81 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 85 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE 94 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE10 Moundville Engraved, variety Englewood Subglobular bottle with simple base
EE11 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl
EI 15 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
EI 25 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
EI 40 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with no more than 10 handles
EI 41 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Subglobular bottle with simple base
EI 78 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
MD RWB 165 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl (miniature) with single lug
Md-AdB, a34 no information Bottle
MI 397 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Standard jar with 2 handles, small horizontal lugs, effigy features (frogs)
MI 430 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl with lug and rim, effigy (head missing)
MI 434 Bell Plain, variety Hale Bowl with effigy features (mussel shell)
MI 438 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl with effigy features (alligator)
MI 440 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Simple bowl with beaded rim
MI 456 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Restricted bowl with lug and rim effigy (head missing)
MI 458 unclassified Large sherd,
MI 459 unclassified Large sherd, red printed interior
MI 462 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Simple bowl with large flat nodes
Mound surface no information Mfe bottle with painted tail
MWFS 176 Bell Plain, variety Hale Pedestaled bowl with cutout, terraced rim
NB 2 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with applique neck fillets
NB 6 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Deep flaring-rim bowl
NC 3 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
ND 28 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Bottle with pedestal base, effigy features (fish)
ND 33 Mound Place Incised, variety unspecified Simple bowl with lug and rim effigy (bird, flat inward facing head)
ND 4 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill Subglobular bottle with slab base
ND 7 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
NE 1 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Terraced rectanguloid bowl with lowered lip
NE 124 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Standard jar with 2 handles, small horizontal lugs
NE 133 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with slab base
NE 136 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 8 handles
NE 140 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
NE 147 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
NE 169 Bell Plain, variety unspecified High shouldered bottle
NE 19 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with widely spaced nodes
NE 192 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl (miniature)
NE 36 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl
NE 37 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Cylindrical bowl with single lug
NE 453 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim and widely spaced nodes
NE 454 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Standard jar with 2 handles, effigy features (stylized frog)
NE 574 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
NE 585 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 4 handles
NE 593 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
NE 65 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
NE 7 Moundville Engraved, variety Northport Subglobular bottle with slab base
NE 74 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with handles
NE 82 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Hooded bottle with effigy features, (human figure)
NE 85 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
NE 86 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim, effigy features (human figures)
NE 9 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Restricted bowl with rim strap, effigy features (frog)
NE 92 Bell Plain, variety Hale Bottle
NE 93 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl
Near MD unclassified Carinated bowl
NED 1 Nodena Red and White, variety unspecified Collared bottle with carafe neck
NED 10 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
NED 11 no information  
NED 3 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
NED 4 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Simple bowl with lug and rim effigy (head missing)
NED 5 Misssissippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with four handles
NED 6 Hemphill Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
NED 7 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
NED 8 no information Bottle, mbf engraved, indented
NG 10 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (insect) Subglobular with simple base (flattened)
NG 2 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Restricted bowl with effigy features, (frogs)
NG 3 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (paired tails) Cylindrical bowl with indentations
NG 30 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
NG 31 Bell Plain, variety Hale Deep flaring-rim bowl
NG 6 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
NG 8 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with pedestal base, indentations
NN ' 13 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar (miniature) with 2 handles
NN '18 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
NN '19 Carthage Incised, variety Akron Simple bowl
NN '38 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
NP 12 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Jar with 2 handles
NP 13 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl with notched applique band at shoulder
NP 14 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Jar with 2 handles
Np 15 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Jar with 4 handles
NP 2 Hemphill Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base, indentations
NP 3 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Jar (miniature) with 2 handles
NP 4 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Bottle with notched applique at shoulder
NP 7 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with effigy features (conch shell)
NP"C" ( C marked on vessel) unclassified Small bowl
NR 102 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with lug and rim effigy, (head missing)
NR 106 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl with grouped nodes
NR 107 Plaquemine Brushed, variety unspecified Standard jar with no handles
NR 115 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
NR 117 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
NR 119 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
NR 160 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl
NR 162 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with pedestal base, indentations
NR 25 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (skull, forearm bones) Cylindrical bottle
NR 98 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with slab base (indentations)
NW 16 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Restricted bowl with lug and rim effigy (bird with gracile, outward facing head)
NW 42 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
NW 7 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with slab base
RHO 101 Andrews Decorated, variety unspecified Cylindrical bowl
RHO 102 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
RhO 104 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with slab base
RHO 109 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Bottle
RHO 135 Nashville Negative Painted, variety unspecified Subglobular bottle with carafe neck
RHO 156 Bell Plain, variety Hale Bowl with effigy features (mussel shell)
RHO 164 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (winged serpent) Subglobular bottle with simple base
RHO 166 no information Mfe bottle with scroll
RHO 170 Moundville Engraved, variety Northport Subglobular bottle with pedestal base, indentations
RHO 171 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl with lug
RHO 177 Andrews Decorated, variety unspecified Miniature cylindrical bowl with multilinear bands at rim and base
RHO 178 Bell Plain, variety unspecified High shouldered bottle
RHO 184 Bell Plain, variety Hale Bottle
RHO 189 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Hooded miniature bottle with effigy features (human figure)
RHO 190 Carthage Incised, variety Summerville Undiagnostic fragments
RHO 192 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Miniature bottle
RHO 193 Mathews Incised, variety Manly Standard jar with 2 handles (notched lip)
RHO 228 unclassified engraved Rectanguloid bottle with pedestal base
RHO 252 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Bottle with slab base
RHO 253 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
RHO 255 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim, lug and rim effigy, (bird with gracile outward facing head)
RHO 304 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
RHO 308 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
RHO 364 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
RHO 368 Bell Plain, variety Hale Burnished jar with 2 handles
RHO 374 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
RHO 65 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Narrow-neck bottle
RHO 67 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Composite bottle with carafe neck
RW 126 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with slab base
RW 227 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with pedestal base
RW 229 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Bottle
RW 569 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Subglobular bottle with simple base
RW 580 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with slab base
RW 581 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Subglobular bottle with slab base, beveled lip interior
S E H 10 Bell Plain, variety Hale Burnished jar with 2 handles
S E H 11 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 4 handles
S E H 14 Bell Plain, variety unspecified High shouldered bottle with lobate protrusions
S E H 19 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Subglobular bottle with simple base
S E H 7 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
S E H 71 Moundville Engraved, variety Elliot's Creek (red engraved) Simple bowl
S E H 76 Moundville Incised, variety Carrolton Standard jar with 2 handles
SD 15 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Jar (miniature) with 2 handles, horizontal lugs, effigy features (stylized frogs)
SD 30 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
SD 473 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 4 handles
SD 482 Bell Plain, variety Hale Burnished jar with 2 handles, effigy features (frog)
SD 584 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Cylindrical bowl with single lug
SD 59 no information Jar with 5 strap handles and nodes
SD 595 Mississippi Plain, variety warrior Standard jar with 5 handles
SD 600 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim
SD 8 no information Bottle, winged serpent engraved
SD 847 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Simple bowl with effigy features (human figures)
SE 18 Bell Plain, variety unspecified High shouldered bottle
SE 3 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
SED 10 Bell Plain, variety Hale Burnished jar with 2 handles
SED 10/NED 10 Mississippi Plain, variety Hale Jar with 2 handles, beaded rim, widely spaced nodes
SED 14 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with beaded rim, effigy features (human head medallions)
SED 15 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl
SED 17 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
SED 19 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with effigy features (fish)
SED 2 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with everted lip
SED 34 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
SED 4 Bell Plain, variety Hale Burnished jar with 2 handles, effigy features (frog)
SG 16 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Cylindrical bowl with single lug
SK 47 Misssissippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with four handles (broken)
SKA 21 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (paired tails) Subglobular bottle with simple base
SM 30 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (paired tails) Semi cylindrical bowl with single lug
SW 21 Bell Plain, variety Hale Double bowl (rectanguloid)
SW 10 Moundville Engraved, variety Maxwell's Crossing Subglobular bottle with slab base
SW 14 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple miniature bowl with undulating rim
SW 18 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Cylindrical miniature bowl with notched everted lip
SW 26 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Lobate bottle with carafe neck
SW 31 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Cylindrical bowl with single lug
SW 34 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (raptor head) Subglobular bottle with pedestal base (gadrooning)
SW 353 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Simple bowl
SW 39 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with pedestal base
SW 50 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Bottle with slab base
SW 61 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl with effigy features (frog)
SWG 16 Leland Incised, variety unspecified Cylindrical bottle
SWG 23 Moundville Engraved, variety Tuscaloosa Subglobular bottle with pedestal base. Indentations
SWG 24 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (paired tails) Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWG 26 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior (red-filmed interior) Standard jar with applique neck fillets
SWG 29 Mississippi Plain, variety unspecified Standard jar with applique neck fillets
SWG 49 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWG 55 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWG 6 Moundville engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWK 1 no information Broken bowl
SWM 132 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Cylindrical bowl with single lug
SWM 141 Bell Plain, variety Hale Subglobular bottle with pedestal base
SWM 172 Moundville Engraved, variety unspecified Bottle with slab base
SWM 180 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Simple bowl with single lug
SWM 183 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWM 188 Moundville Engraved, variety Hemphill (windmill) Subglobular bottle with slab base
SWM 190 Carthage Incised, variety Fosters (hand and eye, forearm bones) Deep flaring-rim bowl
SWM 220 Moundville Engraved, variety Wiggins Subglobular bottle with simple base
SWM 222 Bell Plain, variety Hale Restricted bowl
SWM 230 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 8 handles
SWM 42 Bell Plain, variety Hale Flaring rim bowl (shallow)
SWM 94 Bell Plain, variety Hale Simple bowl with lug and rim effigy (duck-flat inward facing head)
W 220 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
W 50 type unknown Associated with sk. 2906
WP 104 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 4 handles
WP 121 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Deep flaring-rim bowl
WP 122 Carthage Incised, variety Fosters (hand and eye, forearm bones-red on white) Short neck bowl
WP 223 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
WP 230 Hemphill Engraved, variety Taylorsville Subglobular bottle with simple base
WP 29 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Short neck bowl
WP 32 Moundville Engraved, variety Havana Simple bowl
WP 39 no information Mfe bottle with hands
WP 61 Moundville Engraved, variety Elliot's Creek Slender ovoid bottle with pedestal base
WP 73 Bell Plain, variety Hale Pedestaled bowl with notched everted lip, lowered lip
WP 83 Carthage Incised, variety Carthage Subglobular bottle with simple base
WR 1 Bell Plain, variety unspecified Bottle
WR 57 Walls Engraved, variety unspecified Hooded bottle with effigy features (human figures)
WR 69 Mississippi Plain, variety Warrior Standard jar with 2 handles
WR 74 Bell Plain, variety Hale Cylindrical bowl with single lug
WR 9 Moundville Engraved, variety Taylorville Simple bowl with single lug
 

 

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