Pottery Disks
These were quite common on the site, particularly in areas of house concentration. A total of 33 either whole or fragmentary specimens were catalogued. Of these, six were the plain disks so common to Mississippian sites ([Fig. 17]:1) while 27 were perforated. All of the perforated specimens had a hole through the center of the disk and may well have been spindle whorls ([Fig. 17]:2). These ranged in size from 3 to 8 cm. in diameter. Nine of the spindle whorl type disks had well smoothed edges while the remaining edges were either roughly smoothed or unmodified after breaking. All of them were of Neeley’s Ferry Plain except one made from an Old Town Red sherd. The drilled disks were most commonly found in association with the houses, although several specimens were found in refuse pits. Four of the perforated disks had more than one hole drilled in them ([Fig. 17]:3). One had two completed holes with a third just started on one surface. Another example had a central hole and another drilling had been started from both sides but not carried to completion ([Fig. 17]:4).
In eleven of the drilled disks the holes were at an angle, probably due to improper drilling, the angle drilling from one side being necessary to meet the perforation from the opposite side.
There were six unperforated disks which ranged in size from 2 to 6 cm. in diameter. Two of these had smoothed edges while the others had been roughly shaped only. The smallest of these disks had a smoothed edge with a groove incised into it.
Seven examples of drilled pottery were found of which two are perforated rims, the holes being drilled after firing. One piece has been perforated several times. One of the drilled rimsherds, (FS 124) was on the chest of burial 28. It may have been used as a pendant. Another specimen, (FS 225) had three incompleted holes as well as the perforation. One perforated sherd was Old Town Red, another sand-tempered cord-marked and the rest were Neeley’s Ferry Plain.