Hopi Whirlpool

A prehistoric Hopi pot is caught in the heart of the famous Whirlpool Galaxy.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveals in intricate detail M51, also known as NGC5194, a spectacular spiral galaxy with bright clusters of active young stars highlighted in glowing red hydrogen gas. Cold dust clouds branch out in spurs. The center disk of dust may fuel a nuclear black hole. (PRC01-10: NASA, Hubble Heritage Team, STScI, AURA.

This ancient pot from the Chevelon area of eastern Arizona was featured in the Journal of the Bureau of American Ethnology around 1900. This lithograph resides in a private collection detached from the bound volumes. Its color may not be an accurate rendition of the artifact. The Hopi were extensively studied and reported on by scientists during this period as a unique and vibrant Native American society.

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