Analysis of Ceramic Sherds from Woodpecker Cave

Summary

Four field seasons of excavations by the University of Iowa field school have recovered hundreds of ceramic pottery sherds from the Woodpecker Cave site. Previous typological analyses of the ceramic assemblage have supported the hypothesis that the site was host to long-term seasonal occupations spanning hundreds of years. Woodpecker Cave provides a unique opportunity to study variation in technologies used during ceramic production in eastern Iowa, spanning the Middle Woodland and Late Woodland periods. Further analysis of the ceramic assemblage can provide insight into production strategies within the region. Examining temper, vessel morphology, and carbonization within the collection of sherds allows for analysis of the technological choices made during vessel production and the actual function of the vessels after production. Attempts to partially refit vessels will aid in determining overall shape and size, and provide a better understanding of the soot and carbon patterns present in the collection.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage