Bvans and 
Meggers] ARCHEOLOGY IN BRITISH GUIANA 55 
of British Guiana. It is possible that the modern cultivation and 
drainage ditches have disturbed the deposits at N-11; however, since 
the shell-tempered sherds occur at N-9 also, it does not seem likely 
that their association with the Alaka Phase stone complex at N-11 
is accidental. 
A tabulation of the occurrence of pottery at the various levels and 
from the surface of Alaka Phase sites is given for reference in 
table A (p. 58). 
SAND CREEK PLAIN 
PASTE: 
Method of manufacture: Coiling. 
Temper: Sand with minute mica particles; amount of quartz sand varies 
greatly from almost none to about 40 percent of the volume of the paste; 
size of particles ranges from minute to 3 mm. The only constant factor 
is the presence of fine mica. 
Texture: Fine-grained ; temper well mixed in the paste; no air pockets. 
Color: Tan to gray to gray brown; about half have a gray core, the remainder 
an orange Core. 
Firing: Oxidized, poorly controlled ; some fire clouding. 
SURFACE: 
Color: Both surfaces tan, brown, or, rarely, dark gray. 
Treatment: Even, smooth, with small irregularities readily visible; occa- 
sional temper particles protrude. 
Hardness: 3-3.5. 
Form: : 
Rim: Direct with rounded, tapered or flattened lip; rarely, slightly thickened 
with rounded lip. Rim tends to be uneven and wavy. 
Body wall thickness: Range 4-9 mm. ; majority 6-7 mm. 
Base: Flat, diameter 6 cm., or slightly rounded. 
Major vessel forms reconstructed from sherds: 
1. Open bowls with outslanting sides, direct rim and rounded to flat- 
tened lip. Rim diameter 22-34 cm. (fig. 20-1, top). 
2. Deep bowls with vertical sides, direct or slightly thickened rim and 
rounded lip. Rim diameter 10—28 cm. (fig. 20-2, top). 
8. Jars with walls incurving to constricted mouth. Body wall thickness 
tapers down to direct rim with rounded or flattened lip. Mouth 
diameter 12-22 cm. (fig. 20-3, top). 
TEMPORAL DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE Type: None. 
CHRONOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE TYPE: Since Sand Creek Plain is found at the 
largest number of sites (N—8, N-9, and N-11), it might be considered most 
characteristic pottery type of the Alaka Phase. It is never common, however 
(see table A for sherd counts). 
WANAINA PLAIN 
PASTE: 
Metiod of manufacture: Coiling; breaks along the coil line are very distinct, 
with the coil width averaging 1 cm. wide. 
Temper: Crushed shell (pl. 18). Except in a few sherds the temper is 
completely leached out, leaving platy, irregularly shaped holes. The white 
flecky shell is well distributed throughout the paste, constituting about 
