The correlation of this Great Eagle antagonist on the Path of Souls (apparently restricted to the Alabama and Seminole) with the appearance of the Raptor on Moundville mortuary ceramics seems significant. When it is considered that the Alabama are in the group of likely descendants of the Moundvillians, the case is as complete as it is likely to be: for Moundville, the Raptor/Great Eagle was to be found as an antagonist on the Path of Souls, and mortuary ritual would likely have included grave goods which would enable the soul to negotiate or fight with the Raptor on the journey.
