Type definition

Adapted from Suhm and Jelks (1962:6-7, Plate 4).

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Coiled.

PASTE

Temper

Often none visible; otherwise fine clay-grit or (rarely) fine white pulverized substance which may be bone.

Texture

Fine and compact to somewhat granular. Well fired, fairly hard.

Color

Surfaces are usually various shades of dark brown and dark grayish-brown, ranging to nearly black. Lighter shades of brown and gray appear, particularly with mottling due to uneven firing. Cores are dark gray to black.

Surface finish

Exterior and interior are both well smoothed to highly polished.

FORM

Wall thickness

Extreme range from less than two to about eight mm; average five mm.

Lip

Very thin and rounded; may be turned outward slightly.

Base

On most small bowls the bottoms are shallow and evenly convex without distinct bases; on large carinated bowls the base is a disk to which the body wall is attached.

Vessel shape and size

The only definitely known shape is the carinated bowl, in two varieties: (1) with rim either vertical or inclined outward slightly, three to five cm high, and body consisting of a shallow, evenly convex basin of less height than the rim; (2) larger bowls with a straight vertical rim five to seven cm high, and a body shaped like a truncated cone of definitely greater height than the rim. Bottles formerly included in this type are now classified as Hatchel Engraved.

DECORATION

Treatment

Engraving and (rarely) fingernail punctations between lines.

Designs

Confined to bowl rims. Usually there are two or three horizontal lines at the top, below which is a zone of narrow bands arranged in rectilinear patterns. Occasionally the patterns are compromises between rectilinear and curvilinear. The bands may be filled with cross-hatching, with short dashed lines singly or in pairs, with tiny punctations. Fine ticking occurs on some lines. Design units are commonly repeated four times around the rim. Many unique combinations occur. When pigment is present in the linesit is usually white, but red and green occur.

CULTURAL AFFILIATIONS

Type apparently belongs exclusively to Texarkana Focus, even trade pieces being almost unknown in other foci. Relationships are apparent in the designs (but not the vessel forms) of Simms Engraved and Belcher Engraved.

DISTRIBUTION

Confined to a small area about the great bend of Red River in the southwestern corner of Arkansas and the northeastern corner of Texas in Bowie and Cass counties.

ESTIMATED AGE

CE 1200-1600, or part thereof.