Ceramic Sequence in Central Basin and Hopewell Sites in Central Illinois

Abstract

The Morton Focus of the Central Basin Phase, or simply Central Basin, is a Woodland assemblage found in central Illinois. There has been a good deal of controversy concerning the relationship of Central Basin and Hopewell since the two were described (Cole and Deuel, 1937, pp. 222-3). Some believed the two were so much alike that perhaps they were the same thing, Central Basin being a poor Hopewellian village group; others believed there was no overlap, but a clean break between them. Most of this controversy was based on ceramic material and the absence of Hopewellian burial mound traits in association with Central Basin pottery. Cole and Deuel (1937, p. 203) saidAside from the diagnostic traits, the balance of the artifacts found in Hopewellian sites seem to belong to the Central Basin Phase of the Woodland Pattern. Most of the knives and projectile points are of Type 1 and only differ from Central Basin in being, on the whole, better made.