Early Woodland Cordmarked Pottery

Early Woodland Cordmarked refers to plain utilitarian pottery whose surfaces were textured by cord-wrapped paddles during forming. Vessels are typically thick-walled jars with simple rims and rounded or conical bases. Cord impressions can be vertical, horizontal, or oblique and often cover most of the exterior, improving grip and heating performance.

Jars commonly measure 180 to 320 mm in rim diameter and 180 to 360 mm in height, with walls 7 to 12 mm thick. Smaller bowls or cups are less common but occur in some assemblages.

Widespread in the eastern woodlands, especially in the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes margins, and adjacent Appalachian and Midwestern regions.

Early Woodland Cordmarked marks the early spread of pottery among Woodland cultures east of the Mississippi. Changes in temper, firing, and rim profiles through time help refine local chronologies.