Prehistoric Native American Lesson Plan: Make a Mississippian-style Gorget
Illinois State Museum Web site used:
https://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/pre/index.html
Objective: After familiarizing themselves with the Prehistoric Native American Web module, focusing
on the form and use of the gorget, students will create a Mississippian-style gorget using clay and a
stylus to etch a design of a stylized animal such as a spider.
Time Required: time to look at Web site sections on gorgets (15 minutes); one 50-minute period to
form and engrave the gorget; overnight drying time; 15 minutes to string.
Grade Levels: 3-6
Materials:
self-hardening clay (2" ball per student)
pointed stick or pencil point
30-inch cord
Procedure: see instruction sheet
Assessment: After reading the introduction, discussing the section on gorgets and trade in the Web
module, and making the gorget, the students should be able to tell or write about the symbolism, trading
for shell, the use of the object, and how archaeologoists learn about such objects as this.
Resources
Childress, Diana. Prehistoric Peoples of North America. Chelsea House, 1995. Covers the Paleo-Indi-
ans' migration across Beringia to Alaska.
Nichols, Peter. Mastodont Hunters to Mound Builders: North American Archaeology. Sunbelt Media.
1993. Ages 11-12.
Pickering, Robert B. The People. Millbrook Press. 1996. Ages 7-9.
Wheat, Patricia. Clues to the Past: A Resource Book on Archaeology. Hendrick-L, 1995. A site in Texas
that teaches archaeological methods.
Illinois Goals and Standards addressed:
Visual Arts: Goal 27:
Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present.
Standard B: Understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society, and everyday life.
Social Studies: Goal 18: Understand social systems (U.S.)
Standard A: Compare characteristics of culture as reflected in the arts and traditions.
Prehistoric Native American Activity: Gorget -- page 1 of 3

Make a Mississippian-style Spider Gorget
Gorgets are pendants that are worn on the chest, hung from a
string or a necklace. Ancient Native Americans made gorgets of
rare materials such as copper or marine shell, which had to be
obtained through trade.
A number of similar gorgets have been found throughout the
Mississippi River Valley and in the southeastern part of the
United States. These gorgets were found near Dickson Mounds
Museum. The gorget on the left is from the Crable site; the gorget
on the right is from the Norris farms site. both date to about A.D.
1300. The material is marine shell from the South Atlantic Coast
or the Gulf of Mexico. The makers engraved a spider with a cross
on its back on each.
The spider was an important symbol to the people of the Mississippian culture. Archaeologists think that
the cross is a symbol of fire, the sun, the center of the earth, or the four directions (north, south, east,
west). The body of the spider also forms a cross, with four groups of two legs each coming out of the
bod y. The spider symbol was especially associated with women. It is thought that the spider symbolizes
weaving, fertilit y, the center of the earth, balance, and harmony.
Materials:
self-hardening clay
pointed stick or pencil point
30-inch cord
Steps:
1. Use a ball of clay about two inches in diameter. Flatten it out into a disk about 1/4-inch thick.
2. Use a pencil point to lightly trace the Mississippian design of the spider or other animal
associated with Illinois Native Americans onto the clay. Press lightly into the clay so the design
is engraved below the surface. The design will show up when light shines across the gorget.
3. Use the pencil point to poke two holes through the gorget at the top of the design about 1/2
inch from the edge. This is where you will thread your cord.
4. Leave the gorget in a safe spot to dry (at least overnight)
Prehistoric Native American Activity: Gorget--page 2 of 3
5. Thread one end of the cord through one hole from the front, and the other end of the cord through the
other hole from the front. Gently pull the ends until there is only a loop at the front. Hold the ends
together and push them through the loop from back to front. Tighten the cord.
6. Tie the two ends of the cord together at the tips.
You now have a necklace.
Design:
Prehistoric Native American Activity: Gorget --page 3 of 3