Shantok Cove Incised pottery represents one of the earliest uses of incising in decoration. At the Shantok Cove Site, Salwen and Otteson (1972) reported a date of 845 +/- 125 uncal. Years B.P. directly associated with one quarter of a Shantok Cove Incised vessel. In other parts of southeastern Connecticut, McBride (1984) has found this type associated with dates as early as 1100 Years B.P. (Selden Creek Phase). Salwen and Otteson suggest this type is very similar to several incised types (Indian Head Incised, Rappahannock Incised) found in the coastal middle Atlantic states.

Surface Treatment
The Shantok Cove Incised type is characterized by cord marked and smoothed over cord marked exterior surfaces. Interior surfaces are smoothed over cord marked and/or brushed.

Decoration consists of zonal bands of vertical, horizontal, and/or obliquely oriented incised lines. Later examples include criss-crossed and rectangular designs.

Morphology
Vessels are usually elongated globular in form. Walls are usually straight. The example shown on this page has a crenallated lip.

Technological Attributes
Temper consists of medium to coarse shell. Sherd thickness usually averages less than 10 mm.

Lizee, Jonathan
1994 Prehistoric ceramic sequences and patterning in southern New England: The Windsor Tradition. University Microtext, Ann Arbor.

McBride, Kevin
1984 Prehistory of the lower Connecticut River valley. University Microtext, Ann Arbor.

Salwen, Bert and Ann Otteson
1972 Radiocarbon dates for a Windsor occupation at the Shantok Cove Site, New London County, Connecticut. Man in the Northeast, 3: 8-19.