One of the Ramey style's most di stinctive traits is its shell temper. The outer surface of the ceramic is also occasionally polished with a smooth stone giving the artifact a shiny look. Unfortunately, this polish can be difficult to detect if the artifact is in poor condition. Many different vessel types, including shouldered jars, bottles, bowls, salt pans, globular jars and necklace bottles have been made out of the Ramey style of pottery. The progression of each of these items can be traced through the years, and fairly accurate dates can be deduced from the form of the vessel.
Decoration is also an excellent diagnostic tool.
In most Ramey ceramics, decoration is accomplished by a process called incising, which involves tracing a design with a blunt-ended tool while the clay is still wet. As with the shape of the pottery, the type of designs have proven useful in determining an artifact's date. O'Brien, Patricia, A Formal Analysis of Cahokia Ceramics from the Powell Tract , ed.