Wickliffe, Kentucky, is the location of a Mississippian mound site and village, active between approximately A.D. 1000 and A.D. 1300. From attribute analysis of 1449 fabrics impressed on pottery at Wickliffe and comparison of the impressions with actual textile artifacts, it proved possible to sort many of the impressed textiles into functional categories. Most likely, these textiles originally were used as garments, blankets, hunting and fishing nets, and possibly large bags. Complex edge finishes and several different types of decorated fabrics were found, including two textile structures previously unreported from this region. The diversity and high level of craftsmanship apparent in these fabrics argue that textile manufacture was a significant sector of the Wickliffe economy. Regional affiliations with Mississippi and Ohio River settlements in the Mississippian "heartland"--Kimmswick, Missouri, Kincaid, Illinois, Tolu, Kentucky, and Angel, Indiana--are apparent in the Wickliffe textile complex.
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