Indians use symbols in their art that reflect their history, represent their ideas and beliefs, and even tell stories. The problem with the symbols and motifs are that people often struggle to find the meaning behind the design. Sometimes Indians are apprehensive about sharing the meanings to traditions, ceremonies, and symbols. However some symbols are so simple they can be interpreted as they are seen. Pictographs and motifs occur often on their pottery and ceramics. Pottery had many important meanings in the Indians lives and therefore the symbols used to decorate the pottery was important too. I focused on some of the symbols used in the Southeastern, Southwestern, and the Plains Indians pottery.
   Pottery and other ceramics were used for a number of things in the Indians life, perhaps its most important roll was being made for ceremonies. The Southeastern's highest artistic achievements were during the Mississippian period, which also was a time of abundant ceremonial life. Ceremonial pottery and other objects were decorated with elaborate designs. Many ceremonial ceramic bottles were decorated in geometric paintings and many were also painted with the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex. Most Indians pottery, especially the Southwestern Pueblo's, was utilitarian, ceremonial, and tied their social life to the natural environment, from which they made their ceramics. The decorations used on ceremonial pottery was especially distinct.
  There are many examples of designs and symbols used in the Indians art. They represented the world by using one or more circles enclosing a cross, this was called the cosmic or world symbol. The cross, volute, and scroll have been used to indicate the wind, clouds, and rain. The cross was also used to symbolize the god of fertility and rain. The serpent symbol is used in some Cherokee legends to say that the serpent was not a friend because they viewed it as an enemy that must be destroyed. The swastika cross symbol probably represents the winds. This symbol connects to the Muskhogean people's story that says that the wind dispersed the fog that was over the earth, which led to light and sun. So this is obviously an important symbol to Indians, despite its separate connection with Nazis in World War II. It is suggested that the border or hourglass pattern, of the Plains Indians, represents the internal structure of a buffalo. This symbol would have been used a lot since buffalo hunting was so important.Other symbols used frequently by the Southeastern, Southwestern, and Plains Indians include; hand, eye, equal arm cross, arrow, human, bird, sun circles, bi-lobed arrow, crosses, and swastikas.
  A drastic decline in ceramic art occurred after the arrival of the Europeans, however Indian women have returned to making ceramics as an art form. There have always been clear stylistic connections between the past and the present in Indians pottery where the designs continue to be reused, despite the decline after the Europeans. Ceramics continue to be an important part of Indians lives, so as long as ceramics are being made then the symbols used to decorate it will continue to be passed on.


Native American Arts and Crafts This book really helped me get basic information on why the symbols and art were so important to the Indians. This book was also good because it clearly split up the different regions of Indian tribes and gave examples of the ceramics and use of symbols that was specific to each group.
Sun Circles and Human Hands This book was the main source that gave me my information on what specific symbols meant or the stories from different tribes about their symbols.
Collectors Guide to Symbols This site showed some symple and more common symbols used and helped me get information on their meanings.
pottery This site gave me the information that sometimes it is hard to desifer the meanings of symbols because the Indians might be reluctant to tell. This site also showed and explained some good pieces of pottery.
pueblo Indians art This site helped me get some basic information on the arts, especially pottery, and symbols of the Indians, like the Pueblos.