According to Willey (1949:409), "Plain ware of the Weeden Island Type has been informally recognized for some years. In order to make the classification of sherds from the stratigraphic excavations as objectively verifiable as possible, only rim sherds were listed as Weeden Island Plain. It is probable that the residual group 'Smooth Plain' is almost wholly composed of body sherds of Weeden Island Plain vessels. In addition, other less well-finished Weeden Island Plain body sherds were undoubtedly thrown into the other category, 'Residual Plain'". The type's distribution range is the "entire Florida Gulf Coast area (Willey 1949:409). In terms of relations to other types, Weeden Island Plain is "related to the plain wares of both the Troyville and Coles Creek Periods of the Lower Mississippi Valley" (Willey 1949:409).

As described by Willey (1949:425-427):

Definition as a type: Northwest coast of Florida

Ware characteristics: 

Method of manufacture: Coiling or annular technique

Temper: Fine sand with only rare coarser particles in the form of grit or lumps of clay. Mica observed in most sherds.

Paste texture and color: Granular. Some tendency, occasionally observed, toward lamination and contortion of paste, although this does not affect the hard, compact quality of the paste. May be oxidized to buff color throughout; may have buff surfaces and gray core; may have only an exterior buff surface; or may be gray-black throughout.

Surface texture, color, and finish: Surface color varies according to the firing. Light buff, red-buff, gray, and mottled black are the most common. Fire clouding is frequent. Both surfaces well smoothed to polished. Red paint of a carmine shade has been used as a slip on many specimens. Those so painted were nearly all of natural buff surface. Paint has the appearance of a 'fugitive' red as it is much worn and, in some cases, almost competely obliterated. Nevertheless, it does not rub off and appears to have been fixed by firing, so the term 'fugitive' does not properly apply. In some cases the paint was applied only to the interiors of open bowls; in others the interiors and the lip and vessel rim fold were painted red with vessel exterior left unpainted; rarely was red paint applied completely to both surfaces. Vessels with red paint are virtually all of the open bowl form (P1. 39, e-f.)

Hardness: 2.5 to 4.

Thickness: Vessel walls average 6 to 7 mm. with rims appreciably thicker

Decoration:

Technique: Fine to medium incised lines made with sharp instrument on soft unfired clay

Design: Close-spaced arrangement of lines giving almost a 'combed' appearance in some cases (fig. 42, a, b). Designs are sweeping curvilinear loops, whorls, and straight-line herringbone arrangements. In the latter case the design is made up of a great many lines as opposed to the type Carrabelle Incised. (Pl. 31, c-f.)

Distribution: Usually placed in a band around upper two-thirds of vessel exterior; sometimes entire exterior except base; and sometimes small band below neck

Form:

Total vessel: Flattened-globular bowls, short-collared jars, and trilobed jar all noted.

Rim: Plain direct or slightly incurving. Similar profiles with exterior folds. Incised line often encircles rim just below lip, with or without the fold (fig. 46, bottom).

Lip: Rounded and flattened-round. Incised and linear-punctated line noted in top of lip on some specimens

Appendages: Rim projections, trianguloid in form, which extend upward and outward

Geographical range of type: Florida Gulf Coast

Chronological position of type: Weeden Island I and II periods

Relationships of type: Design arrangement suggests some varieties of type Yokena Incised (Ford and Willey, 1939) of the Troyville Period of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Undoubtedly a part of the Weeden Island Series.

Bibliography: Willey (1945).