Within the Windsor ceramic tradition, there has long been
recognized a class of pottery described as shell impressed or
pseudo-shell impressed (Rouse 1947; Lavin 1980). Shell impressed
ceramics, which lack the diagnostic decorative elements found on Niantic
pottery have been found in relative abundance in coastal and estuarine
regions of southern New England. The earliest use of shell stamping is
associated with the Sebonac Stamped type dating to the Selden
Creek Phase
(ca. 1240-450 Years B.P.) (McBride 1984). The Selden Island type
includes later varieties of shell stamping which do not fit the classic
Sebonac or Niantic Stamped types (Lizee 1994). While Sebonac and Niantic
pottery appear limited in distribution to riverine and coastal zones, the
Selden Island type appears to have a wider distribution which includes
interior upland sites.
Surface Treatment and Decoration
The Selden Island type is named for the type site located in
Lyme, Connecticut. Excavations conducted at Selden Island
recovered an extensive assemblage of shell impressed pottery. The
Selden Island type is characterized by shell stamping and rocker
dentate application of shell stamping on the upper quarter of the
exterior vessel surface. Selden Island ceramics
are usually marked by rocker dentate stamping using the lateral edge of a
quahog or oyster shell. The resulting line is uneven and
asymmetrical. Lavin (1980) previously misidentified this form of shell
stamping as an incised design intended to imitate a shell
impression.
Vessel surfaces of the Selden Island type are typically smoothed or smoothed over cord marking and/or brushing. Interior surfaces are smoothed or brushed.
Morphology
Vessel morphology of the Selden Island type is varied and
ranges from elongated conoidal with slightly constricted necks to
straight walled conoidal forms. The Selden Island assemblages
from Lyme and East Haddam both contained examples with low
castellations.
Rim diameters of Selden Island vessels are varied and may reflect a range of vessel sizes. In a sample of 10 vessels from southern New England, rim diameters ranged between 20-30 cm, with an average diameter of 26.6 cm.
Technological Attributes
Temper associated with the Selden Island type includes both
mineral and shell of medium to fine grained textures. Sherd
thickness of Selden Island vessels typically ranges between 5-8
mm.