Cahokia and the Mississippi Mound Builders
Symbolic Representations at Cahokia

Stone figurines and clay vessels are thought of as symbolic representations of the Mississippian Period.

Stone Figurines
Stone figurines in the form of females, agricultural projects and serpents are commonly found at Mississippian sites.  The female forms and figurines of agricultural products are believed to represent symbols of fertility.  The serpent figure is believed to represent the underworld.

Clay Vessels and Objects
Ramey inscribed pottery is common to Cahokia.  Ramey is a set of symbols, with 90% of the symbols falling in two closely related groups.  Spiral motifs common in Ramey inscribed pottery are, like the serpent, thought to represent the underworld.  Feathered scrolls and falcon man motives are thought to be symbols of aggressive warfare.

A large body of research has focused on the Ramey patterns and their possible meaning and significance.  Emerson and Pauketat have hypothesized that Ramey Incised Pottery was used as a mediator between the Cahokian elite and the commoners, with the elite distributing it widely to the commoners in order to send certain types of messages to the masses.