This diagram illustrates the transition from soapstone
to clay cooking vessels in southern New England.
In this region, the earliest
pottery is associated with Orient and Susquehanna tradition
assemblages dating to the late Terminal Archaic Period. This sequence
is similar to that reported for New York (Ritchie 1980).
In southern New England and much of the northeastern United States, the Vinette I type first appears between 3200 and 3000 uncal. Years BP. The Vinette I type is characterized by vertical and oblique exterior cord marking and horizontal interior cord marking. Vessels are usually conoidal or elongate conoidal.
When pottery appeared in this region there was a sudden decline in stone bowl manufacture. Soapstone continued to be used in other aspects of material culture for making smoking pipes and ground stone tools.
Linear Dentate ceramics have been recovered in the lower Connecticut River Valley, northeastern Connecticut, and coastal Rhode Island associated with dates ranging from 2700-2000 uncal. Years BP (McBride 1984; McBride and Soulsby 1989). Linear Dentate ceramics are characterized by cord marked and smoothed-over cord marked exterior surfaces and conoidal form.
Windsor Cord-marked ceramics are distinguished from Vinette I by smoothed interior surfaces. This type is common in Roaring Brook Phase assemblages dating between 2000 and 1200 uncal. Years BP (Middle Woodland Period).
In the early ceramic assemblages of southern New England, there is very little observed decoration and/or variation of form or surface treatment. The Vinette I, Linear Dentate, and Windsor Cord Marked types have been identified in many parts of New England and New York.
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