LARGE-SCALE PATTERNS IN THE CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF MISSISSIPPIAN POTTERY

Neutron activation analysis of Mississippian sheds from 21 regions acr oss the Southeast has revealed the existence of distinctive chemical g roups that are associated with four large geographical areas. One such group is associated with sites along the Mississippi River and its we stern tributaries, a second is associated with sites on the Appalachia n Rim in Tennessee, a third is associated with sites on the Piedmont a nd associated drainages, and a fourth is associated with sites in Alab ama. This pattern reflects the existence of several large, clay-minera l provinces in the Southeast that now can be recognized as sources in future studies of long-distance exchange.