158 
uncarinated bowl (P17). To take the analysis of 
shape further, the closed vessels could be sub- 
divided into Composite Dependent Restricted 
(P18) and Composite Independent Restricted 
(probably P16), based on the relationship between 
the carination and the equator of the vessel. In the 
former the carination is at the maximum diameter 
point (i.e. ‘dependent’ on the equator), and in the 
latter the carination is above the point of maximum 
diameter (i.e. ‘independent’ of it; the terms are 
more fully described in Shepard 1954; Rice 1987, 
217-19; Cleal 1992). 
The fragmentary nature of the material means 
that it is not possible to be certain that other forms 
are not present, and the occurrence of a burnished 
finish and decoration on the internal surface of the 
sherds of P11 strongly suggests that it was an open, 
probably shallow, form. Two vessels, one in 
gabbroic ware (P17), and one in which the voids 
present probably represent calcite (P16), also 
possess trumpet lugs which in both cases are 
pierced horizontally. 
The absence of any certainly open forms and 
the apparent preference for closed forms is unusual, 
although the small size of the assemblage may be in 
part responsible for this. On the basis of published 
vessels only it is possible to suggest that closed 
vessels with carinations do vary in popularity 
within the earlier Neolithic ceramic traditions of 
southern and eastern England. The Windmill Hill 
assemblage included several examples of small 
Dependent Restricted vessels (Cleal 1992, table 
21.4; Smith 1965), but they appeared to be mainly 
decorated, in contrast to the plain example from 
Whitesheet (P18). The application of trumpet lugs 
to a closed vessel is also unusual, as it is not 
certainly attested at Windmill Hill, or Carn Brea 
(Smith 1965; 1981). 
Although the trumpet lugs on vessels P17 and 
P16 are presumably in part functional features, 
intended to facilitate suspension, the trumpet form 
is an elaboration which is __ particularly 
characteristic of the south-west, and is a diagnostic 
feature for the South-Western (or Hembury) Style 
(Whittle 1977; Smith 1974). The lug on the 
gabbroic ware vessel P17 is entirely typical, and 
there is little doubt that this vessel was made in 
Cornwall, but the fabric of vessel P6 indicates that 
it must be a local copy of the type. That on vessel 
P16 is well made, and again typical of the form. 
Vessel P7 appears to have a simple lug, dished on 
the upper surface, which may have been pulled up 
from the surface of the vessel rather than applied. 
THE WILTSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY MAGAZINE 
Similar lugs occur at Maiden Castle (Cleal 1991, fig. 
145: 14). 
The only purely decorative feature on any of the 
vessels is the fingernail-impressed motif on vessel 
P11, from the enclosure ditch. This motif is rare 
and the columns appear to be formed of opposed 
fingernail impressions which are not pinched 
(archive). No published occurrences of this type of 
decoration on the interior of a vessel are known to 
the writer, but a sherd from Hambledon Hill 
appears to have very similar decoration on the 
exterior (I.E Smith pers. comm.). Similarly, there is 
a published example of exterior decoration of this 
type on a small carinated closed bowl from 
Remenham, Wokingham (Holgate and Start 1985, 
fig. 4, 1-4). This vessel shows sinuous columns of 
impression which run down the neck and onto the 
body, crossing the carinated shoulder. Not all of the 
impressions are fingernail and the authors suggest 
that the others were created with a thorn or similar 
object. 
Four sherds have carbonised residues on their 
interior surfaces, and sixteen have exterior sooting; 
these totals include one of the decorated sherds of 
P11 which has both. The gabbroic ware bowl P17 
and the shelly bowl P18 have extensive sooting on 
the exterior. On P17 the soot is concentrated 
around the lug, although there are also traces lower 
down the body, while on P18 it occurs both above 
and below the shoulder carination. The presence of 
soot on the gabbroic ware is interesting as it 
indicates that such vessels were used as cooking 
pots, either on or suspended above a fire. The latter 
is more likely, as placing the vessel directly in the 
embers would cause the loss of the black finish 
(because of the oxidising effect of the fire and 
atmosphere). All but one of the plain body sherds 
possessing sooting or carbonised residues could 
belong to P11 or P18; the exception is a single sherd 
in fabric D3. 
Volume was calculated for three vessels: P17 
(gabbroic ware: c. 9300 cc on surviving part of pot | 
only: 6200 cc), P18 (shelly: c. 2400 cc), and P15 
(flint-tempered: c. 1200 cc). The lower part of P17 
has been extrapolated from the upper and the 
calculation must be regarded as less certain than for 
the other two. However, even on the part of the | 
profile that survives the estimated volume is more 
than twice that of the next largest vessel. 
Illustrated sherds (Figure 9) 
Each illustrated sherd or group of sherds was 
counted as a separate vessel for the estimate of 
