Figure 7. Sand Tempered Textile Marked Sherds and Impressions
Speaking of sand tempered wares generally and fabric impressed specifically, as an early Woodland movement into the south from the north, Griffin and Sears indicate a relatively early period within the total ceramic horizon of the southeast. In most areas the textile marked tradition dies out by Middle Woodland times. Williams’ description would seem to equate Barnes Cord Marked with Mulberry Creek Cord Marked, which reached its peak during a Middle Woodland period although also present at an earlier time.
All this is of some help in establishing a chronological position for the sand tempered series within the known cultural sequences of this region. It might be construed as adding strength to the belief that there was a considerable time span between the sand tempered and shell tempered wares of the Lawhorn site, and suggests an Early Woodland period of occupation with the sand tempered pottery and the assorted dart points as the only remaining evidence of the early period.
| TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF THE SAND TEMPERED POTTERY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage Of | |||||
| Type | Total | Textile Marked | Fine | Med. | Coarse |
| Sand-Tempered | |||||
| Cord-Marked | 38 | 12 | 37 | 51 | |
| Plain | 5.5 | ||||
| Textile Marked | 56.5 | ||||
| Simple twined | 93.6 | 5.8 | 26 | 68 | |
| Twilled twined | 4.8 | 84 | .7 | 7 | |
| Simple plaited | 1.3 | 25 | 25 | 50 | |
| Twilled plaited | .4 | 100 | |||
Shell Tempered
The shell tempered series was 98.7% Neeley’s Ferry Plain and 1.3% decorated in some fashion. These can be summarized as follows in [Table 2]. All type definitions for the shell tempered series are from Phillips, Ford, Griffin, 1951, Section III.
| TABLE 2—SUMMARY OF SHELL TEMPERED PLAIN AND DECORATED POTTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Percent of the Shell Tempered Series | Percent of the Decorated Total | |
| Neeley’s Ferry Plain | 93.1 | ||
| Decorated Sherds all other types | 1.3 | ||
| Wallace Incised | 13 | ([Fig. 17];1) | |
| Miscellaneous—undefinable—incised | 24 | ([Fig. 17];2) ([Fig. 17];3) | |
| Nodes punched from interior | 2 | ([Fig. 25]) | |
| Old Town Red | 57 | ||
| Carson Red on Buff | 3 | ([Fig. 18];2) | |
| Nodena Red and White | 1 | ||
The inclusion of a Bell Plain Type is so tentative as to be questionable. The few sherds so classified are better considered as a refinement of Neeley’s Ferry Plain. This viewpoint receives additional support with the statement that there was considerable variation in the workmanship shown on Neeley’s Ferry ware, some being well polished and with a finer shell temper. Some sherds that were first thought to be clay tempered were later determined to be shell tempered with the shell leached out. There was almost no lip decoration in the form of nicking or notching. The standard treatment was simply a rounded lip smoothed to the inside and outside vessel walls.
Appendages
Handles and lugs accounted for 1.4% of the sherd count. Of the identifiable pieces and whole specimens, there are 17 lugs, 2 loop handles, 2 intermediate and 49 strap handles. The lugs showed considerable variation and specialization which may be a local development. The Monette lug, as this local type has been called, is basically a U shaped applique with the ends pointing downward ([Fig. 8];1-2). One example was well squared and gives the appearance of an old European churn handle. According to Nash, the cup lug is this same form inverted and these do occasionally turn up in less exaggerated form on the Lower St. Francis River sites. Eight of the lugs are rounded and are molded to the lip. Two are effigy tail lugs one of which was riveted to the vessel rim ([Fig. 8];4). The other has a node in the center, outlined by an incised line. Two lugs are rounded and bifurcated. ([Table 3]).