Preview
Description
These ceramic sherds were found at the Big Hackberry Site. This site, located inside of T.O. Fuller State Park and less than a mile away from Chucalissa itself, was the site of a small, predominantly African-American farmstead throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Among the many types of artifacts found at this site, one of the most common is plain-ware ceramic. Typically only found in the form of ceramic sherds, like those pictured, the analysis of these sherds can provide a lot of information about both the ceramic item itself and the people who once owned it. For example, the quality of the ceramic temper, the use of glaze or enamel on the exterior surfaces of the piece, and the presence (or absence) of painted decorative elements can all be used to infer information like the cost of the original item, and perhaps also whether the item may have been reserved for use during special occasions, or whether it was more likely used during day-to-day activities. Furthermore, historic ceramic sherds may also include elements like a maker’s mark, which can indicate not only the original manufacturer but also the probable location and date of manufacture as well.
Date
1920, 1930
Recommended Citation
Museum, Chucalissa, "Ceramic Sherds" (2022). Artifacts. 127.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/chnash-museum-chucalissa-gallery2/127
Keywords
Plain-ware Ceramics; Farmstead; Historic
