Wolfe Neck

Defining Attributes

Wolfe Neck is an Early Woodland ware, characterized by a crushed quartz temper, and cord-marked or net-impressed exteriors. Defined types include Wolfe Neck Net-Impressed and Wolfe Neck Cord-Marked.

Chronology

Stratigraphic sequences and radiometric dating indicate that Wolfe Neck dates from ca. 700 B.C. – 400 B.C. 

Distribution

Wolfe Neck is found throughout Delaware, concentrating on the lower two-thirds of the Coastal Plain from Southern New Castle County to the south. It has also been found throughout the Eastern Shore Coastal Plain of Maryland. Wolfe Neck is similar to many of the crushed rock tempered wares that emerged in the Middle Atlantic region following the earlier experimental ware period.

Description  

Paste/Temper
The temper consists of roughly crushed quartz that varies from 3 mm – 7 mm in diameter. Frequently the temper is half the size of the vessel wall.

Surface Treatment
Exterior surfaces are cord-marked or net-impressed. Cord-marking is most commonly oriented perpendicular to the rim, though it can be parallel to the rim, oblique, or in various combinations. Net-impressions are usually oriented perpendicular or oblique to the rim. Interior surfaces are mostly smoothed but can be scraped-over cord- or net-impressions (Griffith and Artusy 1977).

Decoration
None

Morphology
Wolfe Neck wares are coil-constructed with paddle malleation. Vessels are conoidal in shape, with direct rims and rounded, flattened, and smoothed lips. Vessel wall thickness ranges from 6 mm – 14 mm, with a mean of 10 mm.

Defined in the Literature
With the exception of temper material, Wolfe Neck pottery closely resembles Popes Creek ware found on the Western Shore. Custer (1989) also noted Wolfe Neck’s general similarity to Accokeek and other Mid-Atlantic ceramics, such as Vinette. Wise (1975:2) noted that after 700 B.C. the period of experimentation (e.g. Dames Quarter, Selden Island) in Delaware ended and Wolfe Neck emerged as the dominant ware. Artusy (1976), and Griffith and Artusy (1977) refined the definition of Wolfe Neck, dividing it into Wolfe Neck Cord-Marked and Wolfe Neck Net-Impressed.

Type Site
Wolfe Neck (7S-D-10)

Maryland Sites with Wolfe Neck components
Highley (18TA23), Nassawango Creek (18WO23)*

* collections at the MAC Lab

References

Artusy 1976; Bastian 1975; Custer 1989; Griffith 1982; Griffith and Artusy 1977; Marine et al. 1965; Wise 1975