The Selden Island type is named for the type site located in Lyme, Connecticut. Excavations conducted at Selden Island recovered an extensive assemblage of shell impressed pottery. The Selden Island type is characterized by shell stamping and rocker dentate application of shell stamping on the upper quarter of the exterior vessel surface. Selden Island ceramics are usually marked by rocker dentate stamping using the lateral edge of a quahog or oyster shell. The resulting line is uneven and asymmetrical.
Interior surfaces are smoothed or brushed.
Morphology Vessel morphology of the Selden Island type is varied and ranges from elongated conoidal with slightly constricted necks to straight walled conoidal forms. The Selden Island assemblages from Lyme and East Haddam both contained examples with low castellations. Rim diameters of Selden Island vessels are varied and may reflect a range of vessel sizes. In a sample of 10 vessels from southern New England, rim diameters ranged between 20-30 cm, with an average diameter of 26.6 cm. Technological Attributes Temper associated with the Selden Island type includes both mineral and shell of medium to fine grained textures.