These were quite common on the site, particularly in areas of house
concentration. A total of 33 either whole or fragmentary specimens were
catalogued. Of these, six were the plain disks so common to
Mississippian sites (Fig. 17:1) while 27 were perforated. All of the
perforated specimens had a hole through the center of the disk and may
well have been spindle whorls (Fig. 17:2). These ranged in size from 3
to 8 cm. in diameter. Nine of the spindle whorl type disks had well
smoothed edges while the remaining edges were either roughly smoothed or
unmodified after breaking. All of them were of Neeley’s Ferry Plain
except one made from an Old Town Red sherd. The drilled disks were most
commonly found in association with the houses, although several
specimens were found in refuse pits. Four of the perforated disks had
more than one hole drilled in them (Fig. 17:3). One had two completed
holes with a third just started on one surface. Another example had a
central hole and another drilling had been started from both sides but
not carried to completion (Fig. 17:4).
In eleven of the drilled disks the holes were at an angle, probably due
to improper drilling, the angle drilling from one side being necessary
to meet the perforation from the opposite side.
There were six unperforated disks which ranged in size from 2 to 6 cm.
in diameter. Two of these had smoothed edges while the others had been
roughly shaped only. The smallest of these disks had a smoothed edge
with a groove incised into it.
Seven examples of drilled pottery were found of which two are perforated
rims, the holes being drilled after firing. One piece has been
perforated several times. One of the drilled rimsherds, (FS 124) was on
the chest of burial 28. It may have been used as a pendant. Another
specimen, (FS 225) had three incompleted holes as well as the
perforation. One perforated sherd was Old Town Red, another
sand-tempered cord-marked and the rest were Neeley’s Ferry Plain.