Ancient Pottery of the Mississippi Valley Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1882-83, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1886, pages 361-436

"Ancient Pottery of the Mississippi Valley" by William Henry Holmes is a detailed study of the pottery created by ancient people in the Mississippi Valley, primarily in the late 1800s. The study looks at the distinctive features, uses, and artistic flair of the pottery; Holmes carefully looks into how the pottery was made, the designs used to decorate it, and its importance to ancient cultures. The study’s purpose is to explore and understand the artistic achievements of certain ancient peoples. Holmes explains that the pottery studied comes from a specific but important area in the Mississippi Valley. He organizes the pottery into geographical categories based on regional variances. In doing so, he seeks to classify and analyze these historic artifacts, shedding light on their origins, functions, and the development of ceramic design.