The Sebonac Stamped type was first identified by Ritchie and
MacNeish (1949). The Sebonac type site is located on Long Island
and this type has usually been associated with coastal
occupations. The Sebonac Stamped type marks the first use of
shell stamped decoration within the Windsor Tradition and appears
during the latter half of the Selden
Creek Phase. Ritchie and MacNeish (1947), Rouse
(1947), and Lavin (1980) consider Sebonac Stamped ceramics as an
horizon style diagnostic of
Late Woodland Period occupations. Lavin
includes Sebonac as a ceramic stage in New England prehistory (Lavin 1986
and 1987). McBride (1984) considers the Sebonac Stamped type as
diagnostic of the latter half of the Selden Creek Phase.
Surface Treatment
Sebonac Stamped ceramics are characterized by the use of shell
stamping in decoration. The shell edge is
usually oriented vertically or obliquely and perpendicular to the
rim. Shell stamping is executed in parallel horizontal bands.
Typically, the shell is slightly dragged in a lateral motion.
Shell stamping is executed over cord marked or
brushed exterior surfaces. Interior surfaces are brushed, cord
marked, or fabric marked (Pope 1953).
Morphology
Vessel morphology is distinctly conoidal.
Reconstructed vessels from Long Island (Ritchie 1980) and
southeastern Connecticut are elongated conoidal forms. No
globular examples of this type have been identified. Sebonac
Stamped vessels have relatively straight walls. Pope (1953) has
described some examples with outflaring rims and slightly
constricted necks.
Rim diameters show a decrease over earlier types in southern New England. Rim diameters typically range between 20-26 cm.
Technological Attributes
Sherd temper of the Sebonac Stamped type is exclusively of shell.
Since no examples of this type have been identified in upland /
interior settings, I suggest that this type represents a coastal
development during the Late Woodland Period. The temper particle
size varies from coarse (>5 mm) to fine (1 mm) grained. At the
Shantok Cove type site, Salwen and Ottesen (1972) reported a mean
sherd thickness of 9 mm. Sebonac Stamped sherds usually range
between 7-10 mm.