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The Institutional Organization of Mississippian Religion

Bibliographic Data

ID2575134
AuthorsVernon James Knight (0000-0003-0791-000X, University of Alabama, corresponding author)
Year1986
Volume51
Issue4
Pages675-687
Publication date1986-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Antiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7316 • E-ISSN: 2325-5064
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/280859
OpenAlexW832094133
LanguageEN
Citations received105
References cited26

Symbolic objects for ceremonial display, or sacra, tend to be systematically related in their representational content to the cult institutions that produce and manipulate them. Cult organization is normally pluralistic among preliterate complex societies. Mississippian sacra suggest a triad of coexisting types of cult institution: (1) a communal cult type emphasizing earth/fertility and purification ritual, (2) a chiefly cult type serving to sanctify chiefly authority, and (3) a priestly cult type mediating between the other two, supervising mortuary ritual and ancestor veneration

Ancestor · Ancient history · Archaeology · Biology · Cult · Institution · Social science · Sociology · Triad (sociology) · Type (biology) · Veneration · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Natural History · History

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Unique citing works105
Citations per year2,76
Citation span1988 - 2026 (39)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 100
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