Belief System
North American Indigenous peoples generally believed that the universe contained three realms: Above, Middle, and Beneath World. People inhabited the Middle World, but spirits, certain animals, and deities could travel to all levels. Religious leaders performed rituals to maintain purity and balance in the Middle World.
Ogee Symbol
Symbols were an integral part of the Native American belief system. They are found on pottery, copper objects, and shell.
The ogee may symbolize a portal to the three worlds that made up the universe.
Courtesy of the Florida Division of Historical Resources
Ceramic Traditions
Florida Native people made pottery for cooking and storage, but they also made decorative pottery for ceremonial purposes. Features of such pottery include specialized rims, edges, and unique designs that probably had meanings attached to them.
Duck head adorno, ca. A.D. 1200–1500
Some ceramic vessels had decorative appendages known as adornos. Sometimes these broke away from the vessel.
Many adornos, or effigies, resembled birds that were thought to have special powers. Birds were an important aspect
of the belief system of Florida’s Native inhabitants.
Courtesy of the Florida Division of Historical Resources
