Mississippian Culture: Did you mean...?

A map indicating the approximate territory inhabited by the people of West Africa's Nok Culture (flourished 500 BCE - 200 CE) in modern-day Nigeria.

This partially broken painted pottery dates back to the Samarra culture, Mesopotamia, 6th millennium BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

A human-headed cat statue from modern-day Nigeria, Nok culture, 500 BCE to 200 CE. State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich.

Clay pot, Polada Culture, Abitato del Lavagnone, Bronze Age, 1800-1600 BCE. Giovanni Rambotti Civic Archaeological Museum, Desenzano del Garda, Italy.

Pottery vessel with linear whirl design from China, Gansu or Qinghai Province, Majiayao culture, late 4th / early 3rd millennium BCE. Exhibited at the Rietberg Museum, Zurich, Switzerland.

A pottery jar with stylized landscape from Gansu or Qinhai Province, China. Produced by the Majiayao Culture, late 4th / early 3rd millennium BCE. Exhibited at Museum Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland.

Large wash basin on a high foot with bifid handle (c. 1500-c. 1200 BCE), richly decorated with geometric engravings. Thapsos Culture, Sicily. (Pencil drawing by Gina Pardo).

Stone door (early bronze Age, c. 2169 - c. 1500 BCE) closing of a grave dug in the rock, decorated in relief with spiral shaped motifs. On it are carved images that could allude to the sexual act and, therefore, to the continuation of life...

As a result of erosion and mining, one of the oldest and most sophistcated art-producing cultures known in sub-Saharan Africa came to light in the mid-20th century. Hundreds of hollow figures, heads, and fragments made of coarse clay have...

This ball-body jar was found in the Faida district of the modern city of Musil, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. It dates back to the Hassuna period, 6th millennium BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).