FLORIDA. Ul 



semble each other closely, and some of the vessels of the one group may even be 

 duplicated in specimens of the other. We observe also that the diversity of charac- 

 ters within a given limited area is often so pronounced that the wares may be as- 

 sembled in well marked groups. The significance of this pronounced diversity is 

 not always easily ascertained, as the differences may arise from a number of causes, 

 as for example, differences in the material available within the area, differences in peo- 

 ple through intermingling or successive occupation, differences in uses to which the 

 utensils were devoted by a single people or to differences in period of the same 

 people. 



Manifestly the first step in the study of the ceramic remains of the region 

 should be the separation and analysis of the groups or varieties of products. Then 

 as research goes on, the significance of these groups with respect to questions of peo- 

 ple, time and culture will become apparent. 



For present purposes/these Florida wares may be segregated under the follow- 

 ing heads : (1) Florida wares proper, including chalk}' ware, extemporized ware, 

 gritty ware, midden ware, etc.; (2) South Appalachian stamped wares and (3) 

 Gulf coast wares. The limitations of these varieties, geographically or otherwise, 

 are not well marked, one grading imperceptibly into the others, features combining 

 in such ways that many specimens occur that cannot be definitely assigned to any 

 one of the groups. 



Chalky Wares. — The groups or varieties of ware especially characteristic of 

 Florida are somewhat difficult to designate fully, although easily identified by one 

 familiar with all the southern wares. What appears to be the most important 

 variety is characterized by the peculiar color and texture of its paste. In typical 

 specimens the color is a light yellowish gray upon the surface and very dark or 

 black within the mass. This contrast of color is due to the imperfect volatilization 

 of the carbonaceous constituents of the clay, save upon the surface. The texture 

 of the paste is very fine and chalky and it is quite possible to identify the ware by 

 the sense of touch alone. 



Varieties of this ware are numerous. Many specimens are quite plain, the sur- 

 face having been carefully smoothed with the polishing tool. Occasional vases of 

 a limited range of form have been painted red, giving a suggestion of western influ- 

 ence, the use of color being much more general in the Mississippi valley than else- 

 where. Another variety exhibits incised and punctured decorations of peculiar 

 types. The figures are in cases elaborated entirely in indentations of varied shapes 

 and sizes ; again solid lines are used alone or both lines and indentations appear to- 

 gether. Often the outlines of the figures are wide and deeply incised. The pat- 

 terns are in rare instances partly worked in low relief; generally the}' are highly 

 conventional. Very frequently stamps were used in finishing the pottery of the St. 

 John's province, the plain rather minute reticulated pattern being the favorite. The 

 stamped wares are described separately. 



The chalky pottery appears to be connected in some of its characters with mid- 

 den ware proper as well as with the extemporized variety. In form the vessels of 



