First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2013

Alma Neckbanded was defined by Haury (1936). Pottery assigned to this type represents an early attempt in the Mogollon Highlands to intentionally create a textured effect on the exterior surface by leaving coils on the neck exterior unobliterated. This is usually reflected by two to six rows of unobliterated coils or fillets along the neck. Coils are relatively wide compared to other Mogollon brown ware coiled or corrugated types (Haury 1936; Kayser and Carroll 1988; Nesbitt 1939; Wilson 1999). Rows of coils lie directly above each other, and there is little overlap or relief between coils. Junctures between coils are sometimes distinct, although in some cases they may be only partially obliterated and difficult to define. Thickness between and within coils is uneven and variable. Portions of vessels exhibiting coiled and smoothed treatments are often polished. Most sherds and vessels appear to represent wide mouth jars that were used for cooking or storage. Temper and paste is identical to that noted for other early Mogollon brown ware types. Coiled decorations on this type are similar to the first textured types in other areas of the upland Southwest.

Alma Neckbanded occurs in assemblages dating toward the end of the Early Pithouse period, or Georgetown phase, dating from about A.D. 600 to 1000, and is most common at sites dating to the San Francisco phase. It is present in lower frequencies during the Three Circle phase. Examples of this type also occur in trace frequencies in the Pueblo period, although these may sometimes be mistaken for varieties of wide-coiled corrugated types.

References:
Haury, Emil W.
1936 Some Southwestern Pottery Types. Medallion Papers No. 19, Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona.

Kayser, David and Charles Carroll
1988 Report of the Final Field Season - San Augustine Coal Area. Archaeological Investigations in West-Central New Mexico, Bureau Management Cultural Resource Series Monograph 5, Santa Fe.

Nesbitt, Paul H.
1939 Starkweather Ruin: a Mogollon-Pueblo Site in the Upper Gila Area of New Mexico, and Affiliative Aspects of the Mogollon Culture. Logan Museum Publications in Anthropology Bulletin 6. Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin.

Wilson, C. Dean
1999 Ceramic Types and Attributes. In Archaeology of the Mogollon Highlands Settlement Systems and Adaptations; Volume 4. Ceramics, Miscellaneous Artifacts, Bioarchaeology. Bone Tools and Faunal Analysis, edited by Y.R Oakes and D.A. Zamora, pp. 5-86. Archaeology Notes 232, Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe.

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Alma Neckbanded jar with handle

Alma Neckbanded jars