9 The Southern Cult in the Belcher Focus

Extract

Specific elements of the ceremonial complex which has been termed the “Southern Cult” appear in Belcher III at the Belcher site and in the Foster and Friday mound components of the Belcher focus. This constitutes the only significant persistence of this cult material in the later or Fulton aspect of the entire Caddoan area.

These Southern Cult elements in the three sites accompany an equally large number of ceremonial traits to form an apparently highly organized burial complex. It seems desirable to segregate the Cult elements, because of their significance outside of this area, then to relate them to other ceremonial traits in the focus in order to complete the local picture. The elements of the Cult complex which are found in the Belcher focus are listed according to the classification of Waring and Holder (1945). The numbers in parentheses correspond to those which Waring and Holder have assigned to the various elements of the Cult. It should be noted, however, that there is not universal acceptance of the items in the list prepared by Waring and Holder. Probably some items should be added; almost certainly a distinction should be made between specific Cult items and those traits of decoration or ornamentation which happen to be widespread in Mississippi and related cultures but are nonreligious or nonceremonial. Further study of local variations in ceremonialism and shared Cult traits is needed.