While the discussions regarding Colono have been intriguing, the recent
introduction of the Dan River pottery series into the discussions may ,or may
not, be entirely appropriate. The original descriptions for Dan River used
material from "Sauro Town" and the ware was described has having a variable
paste (ranging from including considerable amounts of coarse sand to sand
incorporated with crushed quartz) and surface treatments (in order of
popularity) of net impressing, plain/roughly smoothed, corncob impressed,
brushed, and complicated stamped (the later perhaps reflecting Pee Dee
influence). Dan River was originally defined as being associated with the
Sara between A.D. 1625 and 1675. This early work was refined by Paul Gardner
who developed a type-variety approach. Additional detailed work has been
conducted by Jack Wilson. The best evidence to date is that the Dan River
pottery is prehistoric, not historic as originally thought.
Of equal importance to our understanding of Catawba pottery is that the late
prehistoric wares of Catawba River valley seem to have some noticeable
differences from those from the Dan River area. The late prehistoric wares in
the Catawba valley typically show significant influences from the Pee Dee,
including the presence of burnished and complicated stamped wares, different
vessel forms, the use of circular reed punctations, and so forth.
Those interested in these issues might also be interested in looking at Jack
Wilson's 1983 dissertation, A study of the Late Prehistoric, Protohistoric,
and Historic Indians of the Carolina and Virginia Piedmont: Structure,
Process, and Ecology (UNC-CH).
Best wishes,
Michael Trinkley
Chicora Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 8664
Columbia, SC 29202
803/787-6910
Email: [log in to unmask]
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