CARR BRICKELL POINT CERAMIC ANALYSIS 151

 

 

Figure 20. St. Johns linear check stamped ceramics: a) MDC.1.313.1; b) MDC.1.372.8; c) MDC.1.586.9.

circumference of the Circle which were uncovered during the
removal of soil from above the basins. Four sherds
(MDC.1.332) were recovered from Basin Feature 101 and
another four sherds (MDC.1.372) from Basin 95. One sherd
(FS 632) was recovered from Unit 64, and three (FS 96) from
Unit 5. Another three sherds (FBAR.1.96.11) were found
during the FBAR survey.

St. Johns linear check stamped is characterized by a check-
stamped design similar to Deptford Linear Check Stamped,
with bold horizontal lands and thinner smaller perpendicular
lands creating a ladder-like effect. This design and other
stamped designs were created by a carved wooden paddle being
impressed against the vessel exterior. Many of the Brickell
Point examples are well executed with sharply defined lands
encompassing rectangular recessed areas (Figure 20). A total
of 15 St. Johns linear check stamped sherds was found. Twelve
were found in Block 1, three in Block 2, and one on the surface.
Four of the sherds were recovered from the Circle’s cut basins,
specifically Feature 77 (MDC.1.313), Feature 79 (MDC.1.315),
and Feature 95 (MDC.1.372). Three sherds (MDC.1.564,
1.575, 1.586) were found in Units 36, 42, and 48, respectively.
It should be noted that two other “check stamped” sherds were
listed in the field notes for Feature 77, but they were not found
during this assessment.

A total of 14 St. Johns Check Stamped sherds was found at
the site (Figures 17 and 18). All but one were found in the
MDC investigation, and one from the FBAR survey
(FBAR.1.96). Seven sherds were uncovered in Block 1: one
from Unit 5 (MDC. 1.98.6), two from Unit 4 (MDC.1.80.10),
one problematic sherd (MDC. 1.204) from Unit 12, Feature 20

(which is a Circle basin), and three from spoil from the Block
1 area. Block 2 yielded two sherds, one from Unit 6
(MDC.1.117.15) and one from Unit 7 (MDC.1.122.2). The
other sherds were surface finds. Sherd MDC.1.985, a tetrapod
foot uncovered in redeposited soil near the northwest quadrant
of the Circle, is of particular interest because of its similarity to
Deptford Check Stamped.

Dunns Creek Red

This type is characterized by a red slip on either or both the
interior and exterior on St. Johns paste. Griffin describes this
type as a subset of the St. Johns series, with no particular age
assignment (Griffin 2002:89-90). Two specimens were found;
both from the MDC operation (Figure 17). One specimen
(MDC.1.437.6) was found during the MDC investigation in
Block 1, Unit 22, Level 1. Red clay inclusions occur through-
out the sherd. This specimen has an orange surface, without
slip. (George Luer observed that it may be color derived
residue from the slip, which might have eroded away). The
second specimen (MDC. 1.47.3) was found during monitoring.

Gulf Check Stamped

Four sherds of this type (Willey 1949:387-388) were found;
all were from Block 1 (Figure 21). Specimen MDC.1.629.4 is
characterized by fine grain sand with mica inclusions and was
found in Unit 62, Level 2. Specimen MDC.1.902.1 also was
recovered from Unit 62 atop the bedrock, adjacent to Feature
626. These two sherds appear to represent different vessels.