The Spread of Shell-Tempered Ceramics along the Northern Coast of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Shell-tempered ceramics appeared at different times in various places along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. In some instances, these wares completely replaced local non-shell-tempered wares, while in other instances shell-tempered ceramics formed only a small addition to the non-shell-tempered, local ceramic assemblage. This paper examines the chronological spread and geographical distri-bution of such shell-tempered wares, the possible causes for their emergence and adoption, and their potential points of origin.