RESTORED PREHISTORIC LAKE AT MOUND STATE MONUMENT.
The Archaeological Museum
Arrangement.
The archaeological museum houses an exhibit hall and two in situ burial groups. The exhibit hall makes up the main part of the building. The in situ burial groups are enclosed in wings at the north and south ends of the exhibit hall.
Design.
Design of the building itself was based on ideas used by the Moundville Indian in shaping and decorating his artifacts. The classic three-step motif expressed in the three roof levels of the museum, and used over the doorway, was a favorite design element of the Moundville artist. The skull and arm-bone design making up the parapet frieze was copied from a design on a Moundville Indian pot (see photograph on p. [11]). The medallion over the entrance is an enlarged reproduction of a stone pendant once owned by a Moundville Indian (see photograph on p. [4]). This pendant as well as the pot from which the frieze was copied may be seen in the exhibit hall.
Main exhibit hall.
Displays in the exhibit hall are designed to illustrate (1) a brief history of prehistoric man, (2) cultural traits and physical characteristics of the prehistoric Moundvillian, and (3) physical features of Mound State Monument.
A brief story of prehistoric mankind is given in the three wall cases to the visitor’s left as he enters the museum. Cultural traits of the Moundville Indian are illustrated in the eight cases along the back wall, and in the five table cases in the exhibit hall. Physical features of Mound State Monument are depicted in the three wall cases to the visitor’s left as he leaves the museum.