Ceramic morphological organisation in the Southern Caddo Area: Quiddity of shape for Hickory Engraved bottles

Abstract

This study expands upon the analysis of the Clarence H. Webb collection, which resulted in the identification of two shapes used in the manufacture of Hickory Engraved bottles. The current Caddo bottle sample adduces three-dimensional meshes from the Hickory Engraved specimens in the Webb collection, and 14 new meshes from six sites and one collection. Results confirm that in some cases Hickory Engraved bottle shapes differ significantly by site, that the two shapes identified in the Webb collection persist in this larger sample, and that morphological integration is not significant, meaning that those traits used to characterise bottle shape (rim, neck, body, and base) were not found to vary in a coordinated manner. Thus, these results do not support the hypothesis that Caddo potters adhered to a template of bottle shape associated with the Hickory Engraved motif. When combined with the Webb sample, iterative improvements are achieved, and results demonstrate a general trend toward standardisation in Caddo bottle shapes through time.