Ceramics, Chronology, and Community Patterns: An Archaeological Study at Moundville

Appendix F: Type-Variety Descriptions

F Type-Variety Descriptions It is the purpose of this appendix to describe all of the types and varieties -both local and nonlocal-that appear in the whole vessel and sherd samples from Moundville. Much of the information on local ceramics has, of course, already been presented, but in somewhat scattered fashion. The technological characteristics of the Mississippian ceramics were discussed in Chapter 2, many of the classificatory categories were briefly defined in Chapter 3, and chronological relationships were presented in Chapter 4. Here, these data and more are gathered together and collated by type and variety, the intent being to provide the reader with a useful and concise summary of the Moundville assemblage. The appendix is divided into two major sections, treating local ceramics first, and nonlocal ceramics second. The types within each section are arranged alphabetically, with the "unclassified" categories last. The named varieties under each type heading are also ordered alphabetically, with variety unspecified last. Individual vessels pertaining to each category can be located using the index in Appendix G, supplemented if necessary by the one in Appendix H. Descriptions of these individual vessels, including information on provenience, appear in Appendix A. 301 302 LOCAL TYPES Appendix F ALABAMA RIVER INCISED When first proposed by Cottier (1970:21-23), this type subsumed material exhibiting a tremendous range of formal variation. Indeed, it was much easier to characterize this type in spatial and temporal terms, rather than in formal ones, for it lumped together all the incised, shell-tempered wares found on late prehistoric sites along the Warrior, lower Tombigbee, and Alabama rivers. Sheldon subsequently curtailed its formal range somewhat by splitting off a second type, Foster Filmed Incised (1974:208-210), and now the process of curtailment has been carried even further. Alabama River Incised is here understood to refer to vessels of unburnished, shell-tempered ware decorated with curVilinear. wet-paste incisions. The characteristic designs are scrolls (not arches), which are usually found on jars in the area below the neck. Vessels with burnished surfaces and broad-l ine incision, formerly included in Alabama River Incised, are here subsumed within the type Carthage Incised. Examples of Alabama River Incised are very rare at Moundville, and in the absence of a good comparative sample, I have not attempted to set up varieties. Presumably, the type's rarity is attributable to its very late position in time, postdating the bulk of Moundville's occupation. Alabama River Incised, variety unspecified (Figures 56h; 62r) Sample. 1 vesse 1, 1 sherd. Description. The one whole vessel in the sample is a standard jar with applique neck fillets, decorated with a two-line running scroll. The one sherd comes from a shortneck bowl. and is not large enough to accurately reconstruct the design. Chronological Position. Alabama River phase. References. Cottier 1970:21-23; Sheldon 1974:208-210. ALLIGATOR INCISED This type was originally defined with reference to sherds from the Lower Mississippi Valley (Phillips 1970:38-40). Recently, however, its range has been extended to the central Tombigbee region (Jenkins 1981:82-85), and so it would seem appropriate to use it here as well. The type includes ceramics decorated with rectilinear designs, execut~d with sloppy, wet-paste incisions. The paste, by definition, is tempered predominantly with grog. Only one Type-Variety Descriptions variety has been recognized in our sample. Alligator Incised, variety Geiger (Figure 67a) 303 Sample. 1 sherd. Description. Conforming to Jenkins's definition, the sherd is decorated with a series of parallel oblique lines placed just below the lip. The lip itself is thickened with a flange to the exterior. Chronological Position. slightly earlier. West Jefferson phase, and possibly References. Jenkins 1981:84-85. BALDWIN PLAIN The earliest use of this name was to describe certain undecorated Miller II (Middle Woodland) ceramics in northeast Mississippi (Jennings 1941:200; Cotter and Corbett 1951: 17-18). Most recently, Jenkins (1981: 123-127) has extended the concept to refer to all pre-Mississippian, sand-tempered plainware in the Tombigbee drainage, and has recognized several varieties based on differences in paste and rim form. A few sherds of this type were found in the 1978-1979 excavations north of Mound R. Their presence attests to some scattered, early components in the Vicinity, predating Moundville's major occupation. Baldwin Plain, variety Blubber (Figure 67j-k) Sample. 2 sherds. Description. As defined by Jenkins, the sherds are tempered with medium to fine...