Steed-Kisker Ceramics: Analysis of the Scott Site (14LVI082) Assemblage

Abstract

One defining trait of the Steed-Kisker phase, a Late Prehistoric culture of the Central Plains tradition (CPt), is its ceramics. They differ from the ceramics of other Central Plains tradition cultures in that they are predominantly shell tempered, with smoothed surfaces and occasional shoulder decorations. Previous data collected from the Scott site (14LVI082) indicate Steed-Kisker occupation, and the ceramics support this conclusion. Both qualitative and dimensional data have been collectedfrom a sample of the sherds from this site and these data are compared to the Steed-Kisker (23PL13), Crabtree (23CL164), Cloverdale (23BN2), Friend and Foe (23CLl12), and DB (14LVI071) sites. Comparison shows variation among sites and within the Scott site assemblage. The Steed-Kisker and Crabtree sites exhibit no indication of contact with groups of other CPt phases, where as the Scott site assemblage includes three ceramic examples related to the Nebraska phase of the Central Plains tradition. The Scott sample contains mostly Platte Valley Plain ware, with relatively few examples of Steed-Kisker Incised.