In March 2025, Dr. Laura Murphy spent two weeks working in the British Museum’s collections facility in London, England, where over 2,000 artifacts from the Squier and Davis collection are housed. She had the opportunity to view and describe a majority of these items in storage that consist of a variety of Hopewell cultural materials beyond the most well-known effigy pipes from Mound 8 at Mound City, which are on display.

This talk will provide a brief history of the Squier & Davis collection, reveal findings from the collection inventory and archival research, and offer reflections and new suggestions for future collaborations with the British Museum in light of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage status.

Also join us at 12:30 p.m. before the talk for a free tour of the Octagon Earthworks, led by archaeologist Dr. Brad Lepper.