Ceramic Technology

Three of the Herrick Hollow sites (Herrick Hollow II, IV, and V) produced significant samples of prehistoric pottery, while one site (Herrick Hollow III) had only three ceramic sherds. Pottery types were identified based on surface treatment, decoration, and morphological attributes as outlined by Ritchie and MacNeish (1949).

   
pottery rim-sherds; exterior (left) and interiorAt Herrick Hollow II, 281 fragments of pottery—nearly all of which belonged to a single, grit-tempered pot—were recovered in Feature 1. Body sherds accounted for nearly 70% of the sample. Thirty-two sherds were decorated. The vessel was classified as Owasco Corded Herringbone, dating to A.D. 900-1350.







   
pottery rim-sherds; exterior (left) and interior At Herrick Hollow IV, 413 sherds were identified. All of the sherds appear to belong to a single pot recovered primarily in three contiguous excavation units, which accounted for 98.5% of the pottery found at the site. All of the sherds were grit tempered. The most numerous ceramics were body sherds, which account for 66% of the total number of sherds. Eighteen sherds were decorated. This vessel was classified as Carpenter Brook Cord-on-Cord, dating to A.D. 1000-1100.


Owasco pottery sherdsThe Herrick Hollow V site had 56 sherds representing at least two grit-tempered vessels. Most of the sherds (91%) were from a single locus. Within that locus, 98% of the pottery was from three contiguous units centered on the single feature identified at the site. The most numerous ceramics were sherdlets (<2cm), accounting for nearly 60% of the assemblage. Eight sherds were decorated. Vessel 1 was classified as Carpenter Brook Cord-on-Cord (A.D. 1000-1100). The surface treatment of Vessel 2 was indeterminate, but the decoration and morphological attributes are that of the Owasco (uncollared) series. [Photo 85]



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