Michigan Shell Temper Ceramics
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Anthropology
Mentor Information
Janet Brashler, brashlej@gvsu.edu
Department
Anthropology
Location
Kirkhof Center 2216
Start Date
13-4-2011 3:00 PM
End Date
13-4-2011 3:30 PM
Keywords
Environment, Human Journey, Physical Science, Social Science, Technology
Abstract
Evidence of shell tempered ceramics indicates a ceramic type generally associated with Mississippian and Upper Mississippian cultures of the Midwest dating to between AD 1200 and 1400. This research assesses samples of pottery vessels displaying this technology to determine if sherds found in Michigan are made of local materials or appear to be imported. Petrographic analysis of samples of clays and sherds from sites in southwest Michigan provides original data to test the hypotheses derived from diffusion or migration models. Local geographical and geological information is used to determine the nature of local rocks and minerals for comparison with the ceramic samples. Sample ceramic tiles made from local clays and tempered with varying amounts of shell are compared to local ceramic vessels. Other Midwest shell temper ceramic collections are compared to the test samples and used to develop stylistic and technological typologies for southwest Michigan shell temper ceramics.
Michigan Shell Temper Ceramics
Kirkhof Center 2216
Evidence of shell tempered ceramics indicates a ceramic type generally associated with Mississippian and Upper Mississippian cultures of the Midwest dating to between AD 1200 and 1400. This research assesses samples of pottery vessels displaying this technology to determine if sherds found in Michigan are made of local materials or appear to be imported. Petrographic analysis of samples of clays and sherds from sites in southwest Michigan provides original data to test the hypotheses derived from diffusion or migration models. Local geographical and geological information is used to determine the nature of local rocks and minerals for comparison with the ceramic samples. Sample ceramic tiles made from local clays and tempered with varying amounts of shell are compared to local ceramic vessels. Other Midwest shell temper ceramic collections are compared to the test samples and used to develop stylistic and technological typologies for southwest Michigan shell temper ceramics.