Internal and external relationships of Saskatchewan Plains pottery assemblages: circa A.D. 1300 to contact
Date
1991
Authors
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ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The study of cultural dynamics of the Late Prehistoric
period on the Saskatchewan Plains has been hampered by the
lack of recognition of two distinct kinds of pottery. The
pottery found most commonly south of the Qu'Appelle has many
of the characteristics of Mortlach aggregate pottery.
Certain attributes such as Wedge and Straight Rim profiles
with check-stamped, simple-stamped, plain or cord-roughened
exterior surfaces are most common. The decoration on these
vessels is usually limited to right oblique dentate or cordwrapped
tool impressions on the brim.
The pottery found most commonly north of the Qu'Appelle
and into the parklands is different. The dominant vessel
profiles are Straight Rim, Angled Rim and S-Profiles. These
pots tend to have either fabric-impressed, cord-roughened or
plain exterior surfaces. While much of the decoration is
executed in cord-wrapped tool, many other techniques
frequently appear. Although horizontal lines are the most
common decoration, elaborate patterns appear on the exterior
surface of some vessels. Right oblique impressions
regularly appear on the brim; however, a wide variety of lip
decorations occur on the pottery. The characteristics of
this central Saskatchewan pottery most closely resemble
those associated with Wascana ware, originally described in
1959 by Alice Kehoe.
The definition of Wascana ware provided by Kehoe (1959)
was very loose. While Kehoe and Kehoe (1968) acknowledged
the separation between Mortlach and the central Saskatchewan
pottery, the distinction between Selkirk and Wascana ware
was unclear. Byrne (1973) labelled the pottery from central
Saskatchewan as Mortlach, in particular Lake Midden and
Stoney Beach, although this pottery does not have Mortlach
attributes. Meanwhile, archaeologists working on material
from North Dakota and Montana more closely adhered to
Wettlaufer's (1955) definition as modified by Kehoe and
Kehoe (1968) . Thus for the past 18 years, the
archaeologists who follow Byrne (1973) have operated under a
much broader definition of Mortlach than those who did not.
The separation of pottery north of the Qu'Appelle from
Mortlach is demonstrated in this thesis and the differences
between the two kinds of pottery are quantified. The term
Wascana ware is reintroduced as the name of the central
Saskatchewan pottery. It is suggested that the Wascana
pottery was made by the Atsina/Gros Ventre. Evidence from
European travellers is used to support this ethnic
identification.
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Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Anthropology and Archaeology
Program
Anthropology and Archaeology