The ceramic sequence for southwestern Nova Scotia : a refinement of the Petersen-Sanger model

Kristmanson, Helen (1992) The ceramic sequence for southwestern Nova Scotia : a refinement of the Petersen-Sanger model. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (14MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

Archaeologists have long used ceramics in establishing cultural chronologies. James Petersen and David Sanger recently proposed a seven part chronological sequence, derived from prehistoric ceramic material, which may ultimately replace the traditional tripartite Ceramic Period characteristic of the Maine-Maritimes Region of the Eastern Woodlands. This thesis presents the results of a detailed stylistic and morphological analysis of ceramic material from eleven prehistoric sites in southwestern Nova Scotia which was undertaken in order to evaluate the applicability of Petersen and Sanger's model to that portion of the Maine-Maritimes region. -- The ceramic collection central to this research was from the Eel Weir site, Kejimkujik National Park, which has produced the largest in situ assemblage available for analysis. Attribute information recovered from each vessel from this and other sites in southwestern Nova Scotia recovered from each vessel was entered into a file structure specifically designed for this project using the dBase III Plus computer program. In addition to the personal examination of over 20,000 sherds, a literature search produced further information relevant to the study. Comparison of the accumulated data with Petersen and Sanger's proposed chronological sequence indicates that the model is applicable to southwestern Nova Scotia and possibly to ceramics from sites external to the study region. Access to curated collections with documented provenience, as well as the continuation of controlled excavations of Ceramic Period sites, are imperative for further evaluation and refinement of the model.

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