Commemoration of a Mississippian ceremonial structure and ritual practitioner at Walling II, Alabama

ABSTRACT A previously unreported Depression-era excavation at the Walling II site on the Tennessee River, Alabama, revealed a context that may provide insight into Mississippian shamanic ritual. Mound A, a low earthen mound, was erected over the remains of a small circular structure, followed by the burial of a single person accompanied by a human effigy smoking pipe, human calvaria, and other unusual objects. We describe the sequence of events that produced Mound A and review the evidence that links this context to a Middle Mississippian fire-sun ceremonialism concerned with healing and death rites. We conclude that Mound A was erected to commemorate the location of a ceremonial facility and entomb the associated ritual practitioner who served the community.