Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center logo

at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center / Educators

Archaeology Terms

Back to all terms

Cordage Analysis from Pottery

Cordage On the right side is shown a ceramic rim sherd with deep cordage impressions. On the left is a digital positive of the impressions showing the cordage that was impressed in the wet clay. From this digital positive we can determine that the cordage used to decorate it was manufactured with a final S-twist. Pottery with impressions such as these allow us to investigate perishable materials like cordage that do not normally survive in the archaeological record.

Link to 3D image.

3D scan courtesy Dr. David A. Anderson, Associate Professor, UWL, Dept, of Archaeology & Anthropology.

(Entry by Dr. David A. Anderson)

MVAC wordmark logo

at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Contact us

Get involved

Back to top

MVAC Educational Programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.