Clemson Island ceramics

Clemson Island and Owasco ceramics are used to document interaction in Pennsylvania during the Early Late Prehistoric Period (A.D. 700-1300). Clemson Island ceramics are regarded as the by-products of local manufacture while Owasco ceramics are considered to be foreign wares. X-ray fluorescence is used to determine the provenance of manufacture and assess whether compositional profiles reflect the reciprocal exchange of ceramic vessels. The results of this project suggest no clear distinction between ceramic types and clay deposits. Instead, similarities in attributes may reflect the utilization of similar resources. 

The remainder of this chapter discusses the results of a project designed to assess the chemical composition of ceramic sherds from four sites located in north-central Pennsylvania. The goal of this research was to determine the provenance of manufacture of Owasco vessels, and assess evidence for the trade of Owasco vessels at Clemson Island sites. 

Forty-six sherds were analyzed from these four sites (Table I). Each sherd was deteimined to have originated from a distinct vessel lot based on technological and decorative attributes. Ceramic sherds derived from containers associated with both traditions. Owasco and Clemson Island sherds were selected from the same radiocarbon dated features to insure against mixing of sherds from different occupations. Sanq>le preparation included brushing and washing the surface of the artifact. 

If the majority of the Owasco pots do not represent trade goods, how can we explain their presence at these sites One possible explanation lies in the work of Hart (7) and others (5) who suggest that ceramic types represent artificial constructs whose main purpose is to perpetuate culture-history. The discontinuity between ceramic types and compositional profiles is difficult to explain within this framework since the use of types requires that the geographic and stylistic boundaries between groups be maintained reducing the likelihood that Owasco and Clemson Island populations could have exploited the same clay deposits. 

Ceramic types belonging to the Early Late Prehistoric Clemson Island and Owasco types are often used to document and reconstmct interaction patterns in north-central Pennsylvania. Despite efforts to do so, the high degree of stylistic similarity between these ceramics often makes it difficult to distinguish between types limiting their use in interaction studies. In this study, trace element analysis was employed to determine if compositional profiles correspond with identified ceramic types. The study suggests that there is no clear distinction between ceramic types and exploited clay deposits. Instead, differences in the technological attributes of thes pots may reflect the location of sites to material resource zones. 

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