Allamakee trailed ware is pottery used for cooking, storage and trading. It was found mostly in the mid-west including: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois and was created and used by Wisconsin Native Americans, specifically the Woodland and Oneota Indians. They started making this pottery about 2500 years ago, determined by radio-carbon dating. The Woodland culture used ground up rocks to mix in with their pottery.  This was used as a hardener, to make it stronger.  The Oneota culture used crushed clamshells as their hardener. Because of this difference, though made during the same period of time, pottery can be easily distinguished between the two cultures. Some special characteristics include the different materials that each culture used. In addition, archaeologists can tell the dates of each pottery type using the designs and styles used during specific time periods. This includes how the handle was put on to the pot and how the rim was formed. 

References:

“Ceramics Worksheet.” University of La Crosse Wisconsin (12/09/00)

Former Link http://perth.uwlax.edu/mvac/arched/dec97act.htm 2008

“Use of Geologic Materials by Prehistoric Cultures.” University of Iowa (12/09/00)

Former Link http://www.test.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/precult/precult.htm 2008

By, Scott Keltner