Illustrated Specimens
Potsherds (second row from bottom, right).
Sample Size
N=134.
Distribution
129 specimens from Occaneechi features, five specimens from Feature 30 (Haw River phase).
Paste
Method of Manufacture: Coiling with use of paddle-and- anvil technique.
Temper: Sherds are tempered predominantly with coarse to fine sand (78.0%) and medium to fine crushed quartz (15.9%). Other tempering materials include crushed feldspar (3.7%) and mixed quartz and feldspar (2.4%).
Texture: Varies from even and compact to gritty.
Hardness: 2.5-3.5.
Color: Similar to Uwharrie Net Impressed.
Surface Finish (Exterior)
Exterior surface has been scraped with a twig brush, serrated shell, or edge of a malleating paddle.
Surface Finish (Interior)
Interior surfaces are either smoothed (54.5%) or scraped (45.5%).
Decoration
Forty percent of the rimsherds are decorated, which consists of V-shaped or fingernail notches along the lip. Other decorative modes include pinching (along the shoulder ?) and fingernail or fingertip impressions along the neck.
Form
Rim: Four of the 10 rimsherds are everted, one is everted and folded, two are straight, one is inverted, and two are of indeterminate shape.
Lip: Eight lips are rounded and two are flattened.
Body: Restricted jars and possibly unrestricted bowls.
Base: No data.
Thickness: 4-6 mm (9.8%), 6-8 mm (70.7%), 8-10 mm (17.1%), >10 mm (2.4%). Sherd thickness is similar to Dan River Net Impressed.
Size: No data.
Comments
Brushed sherds comprise 3.3% of the Occaneechi Feature sherd sample and 6.2% of the Feature 30 sample. Given that no vessel sections were recovered, it is not possible to determine what vessel forms are represented or to clearly ascertain the cultural association of these remains. Attributes such as sherd thickness, color, lip form, and decoration correspond more closely to Uwharrie Net Impressed and therefore suggest a non-Occaneechi primary association; however, relatively large brushed sherds were recovered from both feature contexts. Given this distribution, it is plausible that at least some pots from the historic Occaneechi occupation also were being brushed.
