Underwater spirits and sacred places: artesian springs in southwestern Missouri. (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McMillan, R. Bruce
• Is Part Of: Plains anthropologist. Volume 64:Number 252(2019)
• Page Start: 382
• Page End: 413
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: sacred springs -- underwater spirits -- mythology -- Pomme de Terre River -- Western Ozarks; Indians of North America -- Great Plains -- Periodicals; Great Plains -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; 306.0978
• DOI: 10.1080/00320447.2018.1539323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0447

Abstract

Abstract : Indigenous people throughout Native America often bestowed special meaning and veneration upon certain landscape features. This is the case for a series of artesian springs in the upper Osage River basin in western Missouri. Artifacts and features recorded at four springs near the confluence of the Pomme de Terre and Osage Rivers indicate that particular activities were conducted around these artesian spring conduits, actions that suggest that the springs held special meaning to the aboriginal inhabitants. The purpose of this paper is to describe the phenomena observed at the springs and to offer an explanation as to the potential meaning of the artifacts and features found associated with the spring deposits.