Pottery type
Hopewell Incised Pottery
Hopewell Incised100 – 400 A.D.Hopewell PotteryKey facts
- Age
- 100 – 400 A.D.
- Cultural period
- Hopewell Pottery
- Material
- Grit- or grog-tempered clay that is well-smoothed before decoration. Incising is done while the clay is leather-hard, producing clear, sharp linework.
Description
Hopewell Incised pottery is a Middle Woodland ceramic type characterized by carefully smoothed surfaces and incised decorative zones. Vessels are usually conical or globular jars with straight or slightly flaring rims. Incised lines form triangles, nested chevrons, and bordered geometric fields arranged in organized bands near the rim or upper body. Surfaces typically range from tan to gray depending on firing conditions.
Size
Common vessel heights range from 15–30 cm, with rim diameters around 18–32 cm. Wall thickness averages 5–9 mm.
Distribution
Concentrated in the Ohio Valley and central Mississippi drainage, including mound complexes and village sites.
Additional information
Hopewell Incised is closely associated with ceremonial centers in the Ohio Valley. It often appears with other Middle Woodland prestige goods and reflects wide interaction networks.